When Archbishop Schwietz began his ministry here in 2001, the Alaskan priesthood was quite literally dying out. We had an aging group of hardworking clergy, but there were scarcely any young men following in their footsteps. The priesthood was simply not on the radar and in many parishes and families it was not encouraged.
Archbishop Schwietz developed a ministry of hope, healing and prevention. Under his leadership, I felt unfettered freedom to support victims who came forward by reaching out to the community at large through collaboration with government and non-profit agencies and other churches to address all forms of violence and abuse.
Before stepping aside on Nov. 9 for incoming Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne, retiring Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz took care of some unfinished business by installing three pastors at major parishes in the Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage.
Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne is scheduled to participate in the following events and liturgies during the month of December.
The following events and liturgies are scheduled during Advent and Christmas in the Archdiocese of Anchorage.
The following is a translation from the Latin, of Pope Francis apostolic mandate appointing Archbishop Paul Etienne as the new archbishop of Anchorage. It was read aloud at the Nov. 9 installation Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral by the pope’s ambassador to the United States, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre.
“I am Bishop Etienne, your brother Paul. I come as the new archbishop of Anchorage, and I seek to enter this fine cathedral,” Archbishop Etienne announced. It was his formal entrance to the seat of the Archdiocese of Anchorage, a homecoming to the universal church as it is manifest in Anchorage.
Just days before retiring, Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz found himself surrounded by young Catholics, a group he says deeply inspired him during his 15 years leading the archdiocese.
In the immediate aftermath of a contentious national election, hundreds of Alaskans packed into Anchorage’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral to welcome the new spiritual leader of Catholics across Southcentral Alaska.
One day after stepping down from 15 years as head of the Anchorage Archdiocese, Archbishop Emeritus Roger Schwietz reflected on the joys and challenges of his episcopacy. In an interview with the Catholic Anchor, the now retired 76-year-old archbishop looked ahead to what the future might hold for his successor and what he plans to do as the self-proclaimed “grandpa” of the archdiocese.