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.
Sister Joyce Ross, of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, died June 19 in St. Peter’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center near her religious order’s motherhouse in Albany, New York. She had been a Sister of Mercy for 66 years.
Anchorage native Deacon Robert Whitney, 31, is on the cusp of one of the biggest moments of his life. On Friday, June 23, after six years of seminary formation, he will be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Anchorage. He graduated in May from St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota, earning a dual master’s degree in divinity and religious education.
On June 29, Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne will receive his pallium from the hands of Pope Francis at the Vatican. The pallium, which can only be worn by the pope or a metropolitan archbishop, is a wool vestment that dates back to at least the fifth century. Wearing of the pallium symbolizes a bishop’s authority as well as his unity with the Holy See.
In an effort to “solicit the Christian community to pray for those in authority, in particular the Governor of Alaska,” the annual Alaska Governors Prayer Breakfast will take place June 24 in Anchorage with Gov. Bill Walker.
To think that God merely populates seminaries by sheer force of his will, or only calls men in private visions and inner stirrings is a misconception which does not reflect the experiences of the vast majority of seminarians and priests.
Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne will celebrate the closing Mass for youth gathered in Anchorage for the Alaska Catholic Youth Conference. The liturgy will begin at 11:15 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral. The public is invited to attend.