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.
“That’s going to make the word of God credible to others,” Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne told the Alaska teens, “when they see in us that it really is possible to live for God — in all of its truth, in all of its brilliance, in all its beauty. If and when we do that, we will bring the doubting world to belief.”
Struggling in a culture they see as increasingly hostile to Catholic faith, Alaska teens said the June 5-8 Alaska Catholic Youth Conference (ACYC) in Anchorage inspired them to return home with a renewed sense of urgency to pray, participate in the sacraments and live out their faith.
Real life experiences, cultural concerns and the Catholic Church’s loss of young people were all part of a frank discussion at Lumen Christi High School gym in Anchorage. On June 6, four church leaders fielded tough questions from more than 100 teenagers gathered during the Alaska Catholic Youth Conference’s (ACYC) version of the Tonight Show.
Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne has announced the following clergy changes for the Anchorage Archdiocese. All changes are effective immediately.
These photos are of Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne receiving his pallium from Pope Francis on June 29 at the Vatican.
In the homily today, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, spoke of the importance of ‘confessing faith in Christ’, of persecution and prayer. I have prayed during this week’s pilgrimage that we will all better witness to Christ – confessing him to the world around us by the lives we lead, our values, priorities, virtue and charity.
Father Robert Whitney celebrated his first Mass as a priest on June 24 at Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage. He was ordained the day before at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral by Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne.
The Archdiocese of Anchorage added another priest with the ordination of Father Robert Whitney on June 23 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Anchorage. The newly ordained priest was born and raised in Anchorage, attended both Catholic and public schools here, and his first assignment will be to minister alongside of Father Tom Lilly in service to the people of Saint Benedict Church in Anchorage, the same parish where he was baptized.
The following events are scheduled for the preparation and celebration of Deacon Robert Whitney’s ordination to the Catholic priesthood for the Archdiocese of Anchorage. All events are open to the public and the media.