Seminarian Madison Hayes took a pivotal step in his journey to become a priest for the Archdiocese of Anchorage. On June 21 he participated in the Mass of Candidacy with Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne at Holy Spirit Center in Anchorage. This is the moment when a seminarian formally and publicly declares before the archbishop his desire to become a candidate for the sacrament of Holy Orders.
Editor’s note: Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne is scheduled to take part in the upcoming liturgies and events in the month of July.
Editor’s note: The following is a list of news and upcoming events from around the Archdiocese of Anchorage.
A total of 180 teens turned out for the annual four-day Alaska Catholic Youth Conference in Anchorage last month. Three Alaskan bishops and dozens of guest speakers and volunteers provided youth from all across the state with liturgies, sacraments, faith formation opportunities and concrete ways to serve their community.
Tara Clemens was an Anchorage attorney and evangelical Christian who converted to Catholicism during her last months of law school. On May 28 she made first vows as Sister Marie Dominic of the Incarnate Word, a cloistered Dominican nun at Corpus Christi Monastery in Menlo Park, Calif.
Human trafficking continues to be a concern for Alaska’s most vulnerable, especially homeless youth, according to a recent study by Loyola University’s Modern Slavery Research Project. The study focused on clients of Covenant House Alaska as well as nine other Covenant Houses across the U.S and Canada.
When a young man begins to feel a draw in his heart toward the priesthood, he may not know where to turn for further help in discerning whether it is God’s will for him to pursue seminary studies and eventually ordination.
With renewed attention on Fatima, Alaskans won’t need to travel far to learn more about the renowned Marian apparitions. The world-famous international Pilgrim Virgin Statue is coming to Anchorage, July 26-30, as part of a two-year U.S. tour for peace. The goal is to bring the graces of Fatima to the American people.
On June 29, Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne received a wool vestment — called a pallium — from the hands of Pope Francis at the Vatican. This vestment dates back to at least the fifth century and symbolizes a bishop’s authority as well as his unity with the pope. Shortly before Archbishop Etienne’s departure to Rome the Catholic Anchor asked him about the upcoming trip and its purpose. The following Q&A interview is edited for length and clarity.
A total of 81 golfers comprising 21 teams turned out for the first ever Archbishop’s Golf Tournament to help raise funds to support a growing group of Alaskan men training for the Catholic priesthood. The June 7 tournament in Anchorage netted more than $14,500 to support the Seminarian Endowment Challenge, a fund which helps cover expenses of Alaskans pursuing the priesthood for the archdiocese.