Jay Hurley said Archbishop Hurley personified the dream of Alaskan poet Robert Service who wrote, “Send us men to match our mountains.” He was, as Jay Hurley said, “supremely balanced, open and receptive to individuals. He made the church real and alive…he brought vision to his ministry…constantly doing what the Holy Spirit prompted him to do.”
Shocking some while bringing a knowing smile to others, late Anchorage Archbishop Francis Hurley was laid to rest in a remote Catholic cemetery, two hours drive south of Anchorage. After four days of public prayers and a televised funeral Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral, Archbishop Hurley’s funeral arrangements came to a quiet end on Jan. 23. The humble gravesite for the iconic Alaskan churchman was chosen himself, according to his long-time personal secretary Joann White.
Editor’s note: On April 30, 1999, late Anchorage Archbishop Francis Hurley launched the Catholic Anchor with the expressed mission: “To provide a forum for Catholics to understand and to assume their roles in the church in the modern world.” Archbishop Hurley died on Jan. 10. The column below was written by him for the inaugural issue, nearly 17 years ago.
The Anchorage Archdiocese released the official program for the Jan. 21 prayers and vigil service for Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Francis Hurley, who died Jan. 10.
In what may come as a surprise to many, iconic Anchorage Archbishop Francis Hurley will be buried in a remote Catholic cemetery, about a two-hour drive south of Anchorage. The humble final resting place for the much celebrated Alaskan bishop was chosen himself, according to his long-time personal secretary Joann White.
Wednesday, Jan. 20 begins four days of public prayers, liturgies and mourning over the loss of Anchorage Archbishop Francis Hurley who died Jan. 10 in Anchorage. This will be the first time Catholics in the Anchorage Archdiocese lay to rest one of their former archbishops. Archbishop Hurley was the second bishop to serve the archdiocese. His predecessor, Archbishop Joseph Ryan, was reassigned in 1975 to serve as the archbishop for the U.S. Military.
On Saturday, Jan. 23, at 2 p.m., the 16th annual Anchorage interdenominational prayer service marking the anniversary of Roe v. Wade takes place at the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery on 9th Street and Cordova. The event marks the 43rd anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the U.S.
For almost 20 years, people from all walks of life and faith have gathered at the Anchorage Cemetery for the annual prayer service to commemorate those who’ve lost their lives in abortion and to pray for their mothers, fathers and families still suffering abortion’s aftereffects. Despite the size, religious diversity and fortitude of the hearty crowd who pray together there in frigid mid-winter, the local media rarely ever come. But absent page-one stories and despite inaccurate ones, pro-life proponents across the nation are making tremendous strides toward restoring legal protection to the smallest humans.
Pope Francis expressed sadness upon hearing of Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Francis Hurley’s death on Jan. 10. In a message sent to Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Holy Father is joining Alaskans in commending Archbishop Hurley’s soul to the “merciful love of God.”
The Jan. 22 funeral Mass for Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Francis Hurley will be live streamed on GCI statewide. Those unable to attend the Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral can watch the liturgy on either GCI channel 1 or in HD on GCI channel 999. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m.