Golfers tee off to support Alaskans studying for priesthood

A total of 72 golfers comprising 18 teams turned out for the third annual Archbishop’s Golf Tournament to help raise funds to support Alaskan men training for the Catholic priesthood.

The June 27 tournament at Settlers Bay Golf Course in Wasilla raised over $4,000 to support the Seminarian Endowment Challenge, a fund which helps cover expenses of Alaskans pursuing the priesthood for the archdiocese.

The Seminarian Endowment Challenge began three years ago when Catholic Extension offered the Archdiocese of Anchorage a “challenge grant” to aid with expenses for seminarian training. Extension is a national organization that helps isolated or financially under-resourced dioceses, including all three Alaskan dioceses.

While the grant has now concluded, the initial boost has paid dividends for the archdiocese in helping to pay for seminary training.

According to Laurie Evans-Dinneen, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development for the Archdiocese of Anchorage, the endowment must reach $500,000 before its earnings can be used. It is currently just under $400,000.

“Therefore, we host the Archbishop’s Golf Tournament and the Seminarian Night Dinner and Fundraiser, coming up on Wed., Aug. 7 at Lumen Christi High School’s gymnasium, to help put money into the endowment so that those earnings can be utilized to help cover the costs of seminarian education, which runs about $50,000 for each seminarian each year,” Evans-Dinneen explained. “Catholic Extension knows the cost of seminarian education, which is why they started the challenge a few years ago to help mission dioceses create an endowment to cover some of the costs.”

 It costs about $325,000 to educate one man for the priesthood. Two men are  studying for the priesthood for the archdiocese — Ed Burke and Madison Hayes. Both men were on hand for the recent tournament.