Fairbanks Diocese loses second priest in three weeks
The Diocese of Fairbanks has lost a second priest in less than a month. On Oct. 12, the diocese reported that long-serving Jesuit Father Ted Kestler died in a fire.
ALASKA NEWS
Bishop Etienne says he ‘will be at home’ as new Anchorage Archbishop
In an Oct. 11 blog post Wyoming Bishop Paul Etienne said he “will be at home” as the new Archbishop of Anchorage. Slated to be installed as archbishop on Nov. 9, he wrote that he was thankful to retiring Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz for his “warm welcome and hospitality” during Bishop Etienne’s two day visit, Oct. 4-5, to his future archdiocese.
After 50 plus years, long-time secretary for late Archbishop Hurley retires
For Joann White, long-time secretary to the late Archbishop Francis Hurley, her work has always been much more a vocation than a job.
Five Alaskan men advance towards becoming permanent deacons
On Sept. 17, five men participated in the Rite of Lector, one of four liturgical rites on the way to being ordained as permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of Anchorage.
Catholic wedding changes take effect in Alaska
Some words and rituals in Catholic weddings in Alaska will change, beginning this fall — and Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz believes those changes are part of a needed response to secular efforts to redefine marriage.
Alaska Native artist crafts gift for pope
Alaska Native artist Theresa Mike didn’t quite believe what she was being asked to do. This summer, Vincentian Sister Mary Peter Diaz requested that Mike marshal her artistic talents to craft an ornate book covering for Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz to deliver to Pope Francis along with the newly published volume, “Alaska’s Archdiocese: Faith in the Far North.”
Alaska’s drop in infant baptisms follows national decline
News of a widespread decline in infant baptisms is met with a certain level of uneasiness among some Catholics.
Special Olympics a source of pride, friendship for Alaskan athlete
Chris Vance is a towering Athabascan Native, devout Catholic and an honored Alaskan athlete. Joining Special Olympics at age eight, he has competed athletically for most of the organization’s modern history. Now 42, Vance was honored this summer by the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame for his role in helping to bring the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games to Anchorage.
VIDEO: Incoming archbishop speaks of vocation, love of outdoors and anxieties of transition
In this video Anchorage Archbishop-elect Paul Etienne reflects on having two brothers who are priests, a sister who is a nun. He also talks about his love for the outdoors and addresses anxieties that some Alaskans may have in getting a new archbishop.
Incoming archbishop’s first homily calls faithful to ‘sit before God,’ then share his love
The morning faithful at the 9 a.m., mid-week Mass at St. Andrew Church in Eagle River were in for a surprise on October 4. Seven hours earlier the Vatican publicly announced that Pope Francis had appointed Bishop Paul Etienne, of the Wyoming Diocese, to be the next archbishop of Anchorage. Unbeknownst to most parishioners, the incoming archbishop was in the back vestibule of St. Andrew’s preparing to celebrate his first Mass in the archdiocese.