Our Namesake

Our organization is named in honor of Venerable Matt Talbot (1856–1925), an Irish laborer whose remarkable journey from chronic alcoholism to a life of deep faith and service has inspired people around the world. Born into poverty in Dublin, Talbot began drinking at the age of 12 and was considered a hopeless alcoholic by his teens. After hitting rock bottom at age 28, he took a lifelong pledge of sobriety and devoted himself to a life of prayer, penance, and charity.

Talbot’s transformation was so profound that he became a symbol of hope for those struggling with addiction. He was declared Venerable by the Catholic Church in 1975 and is widely regarded as a patron of people battling alcoholism and other addictions. His legacy lives on in recovery communities across the globe.