On a very pleasant recent Saturday evening, seven men gathered in a Long Beach home simply to enjoy time together --- dinner and entertainment.

A simple pleasure? Well, for most of them this evening looked mighty good compared to the years when their lives revolved around drama, drugs, alcohol and prison.

That situation --- plus his love for classical music and theater --- is what moved Father Alonzo (Al) Scott, 20 years ago, to begin these Saturday social outings with recovering male drug addicts and alcoholics to show them a world that could lead to a renewed mind, spirit, and a new beginning.

But these outings could not happen without a committed Catholic community --- in this case, Long Beach parishioners who provide monetary support and open their homes to the group of men --- usually 3-5 at a time - to share dinner with them before they head to the theater or to a local venue to enjoy classical music. The tickets are also donated.

It has been, says "Father Al" --- a golden jubilarian in 2009 --- a purposely low-key enterprise, this network of 21 parishioners which has helped about 100 homeless and drug addicts in those 20 years. "I like anonymity," he told The Tidings.

But he agreed to this article because he understands this can be an inspiration for other people who want to help the poor, the needy or the lost, but do not know where to start.

"I love what I do because it energizes me," said the 76-year-old associate pastor of St. Cyprian Church in Long Beach. He retired a year ago, but still celebrates Mass at St. Cyprian and other parishes, as well as weddings, funerals and baptisms.

'They've never seen something beautiful'
The plan for the May 16 evening: Have dinner at the home of Margaret Dennis, a parishioner of Long Beach's Our Lady of the Refuge Church, and then take off to the Long Beach Convention Center to enjoy the "Legends of American Film Music," performed by the Long Beach Symphony POPS.

Such outings, Father Scott noted, actually are rooted in the early 1970s, when he served as a religion teacher at different Catholic high schools (he taught for 35 years altogether). On Saturdays, he took them out in groups to performances at a local theater (over the school year, all had the chance to attend). After the performance, Father Scott took them backstage to meet the actors, the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, George C. Scott, Henry Fonda or Jack Lemmon.

This time, however, it would be impossible to go backstage and mingle with the musicians, so Father Al was dressed casually. No black, no collar, but sneakers, a comfortable polo T-shirt under a light jacket, and Dockers.

"It's important that they (the actors) understand that they (the men) are not the regular theater audience," said Father Al. "A lot of guys, they've never been to a play before, they've never been to a symphony. They've never seen something beautiful."

Not getting autographs this night did not matter to John, a recovering addict who came along this evening. John already has a collection of autographs and photos of Al Pacino, Sally Struthers and other celebrities that he has put together in an album, including tickets and programs of the venues they have visited.

Father Al spotted John five years ago at a church he visits every week and where he preaches every month. Other men he finds at Salvation Army and a sober living home in Long Beach.

Today, John lives in a house with his fiancée and is about to become a certified nurse assistant. He has authored two books and with the help of Father Al participated in a book contest. He did not receive any accolade, but the whole experience was very rewarding, he said.

"If it hadn't have been for Father Al, I would have never got into it," he smiled.

He and the priest have become close friends. They go to the movies almost every Wednesday. "I gotta be extra nice," Father Al joked. "Because when I can't carry myself he'll push me around."

John and David, a Venezuelan who joined the May 16 group for the first time, were the only ones in the group that have never been incarcerated.

'Leave it to God'
Matthew, 42, has also benefited from his relationship with Father Al and from the outings. A few days after he had been released from prison for the "zillionth" time in 12 years, the priest got a room for him at Margaret Dennis' home.

"My family was against my decision," Dennis told The Tidings. "They feared that if he had just come out of prison he would rip me off, but I told them that I would leave it to God."

In the two years that Matthew stayed in her house she never lost a penny. She became his godmother and he went back to school. Today he is a certified welder, has a job designing stainless steel kitchen furniture, and is venturing out with his own welding services business, catering to restaurants.

"I was baptized six years ago," Matthew said proudly. "Margaret and Father educated me."

He met Father Al in jail 15 years ago. He had never seen a priest in jail before but after meeting him he kept the business card the priest gave him and he always remembered what he told him: "When you get out, if you want to change your life come talk to me."

"We're very strict with him," Margaret said, "All they need is love. Most of these men never had anyone who told them they are loved."

Father Al concurs, but goes even further.

"I tell them, 'I can be your best friend and best cheerleader, but I can't run your race, hit your homerun or score your touchdown'."

"I can help them become the best version of themselves," he noted. "Happiness is an inside job."

Rejected by families
He helps them go to school and introduces them to families that look beyond the tattoos on the bodies of the men, or their past in detention facilities.

These families understand that it is very difficult for most ex-convicts to go back to a regular life. Many employers will not hire people with criminal records; if they do, the employees need to report a home address, which most of them lack, since the majority are rejected by their families or grew up in extremely dysfunctional families, who often are scattered all over the country.

Paul, 41, is an example. It has been hard for him to learn the lesson. Father Al is giving him a second chance. Four years ago the priest found him at a church that helps the homeless that he visits once a week.

He arranged things so that Paul could stay in a sober living facility. Two months later he had rented an apartment and had a job, but months after that he lost it over a fight and gradually went back to his old habits of using drugs. He ended up in prison once again.

Paul conceded he has been "too busy" living in juvenile halls, jails and prisons for the last 18 years to think about having a stable relationship.

"Father Scott was a little reluctant at first," he said when asked about the support he gets from the priest. "I had to restore his trust again," he acknowledges.

He has been out of prison since January and says he is serious about staying out. Disabled due to a degenerative spine disease, he rents an apartment that parishioners at St. Joseph Church in Long Beach helped him furnish.

Appreciation
The grandson of the late renowned L.A. lawyer Joseph Scott, Father Al still receives thank-you calls from some of the men he has taken to the theater or to the symphony. They usually tell him how that night they could see they were wasting their lives in prisons when life outside had much more to offer.

The day after their outing, most of the man planned to attend Mass with their spiritual mentor and then head off together to feed the homeless at the church Father Al goes every week. Some of them also visit nursing homes where they share their stories with the elderly.

Like Arthur, 48, who was in and out of prison for 12 years and has been invited to the outings for the last three years. Today the former skid row resident is a collections' officer working for a law firm, and is about to purchase his own house.

"My life before was living hell on Earth," said Arthur. "Now it's heaven on Earth, but it's been because today I'm able to make the correct decisions. I don't have the power; God has the power to change my life."