Alaska Native artist Theresa Mike didn’t quite believe what she was being asked to do. This summer, Vincentian Sister Mary Peter Diaz requested that Mike marshal her artistic talents to craft an ornate book covering for Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz to deliver to Pope Francis along with the newly published volume, “Alaska’s Archdiocese: Faith in the Far North.”
News of a widespread decline in infant baptisms is met with a certain level of uneasiness among some Catholics.
Chris Vance is a towering Athabascan Native, devout Catholic and an honored Alaskan athlete. Joining Special Olympics at age eight, he has competed athletically for most of the organization’s modern history. Now 42, Vance was honored this summer by the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame for his role in helping to bring the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games to Anchorage.
In this video Anchorage Archbishop-elect Paul Etienne reflects on having two brothers who are priests, a sister who is a nun. He also talks about his love for the outdoors and addresses anxieties that some Alaskans may have in getting a new archbishop.
The morning faithful at the 9 a.m., mid-week Mass at St. Andrew Church in Eagle River were in for a surprise on October 4. Seven hours earlier the Vatican publicly announced that Pope Francis had appointed Bishop Paul Etienne, of the Wyoming Diocese, to be the next archbishop of Anchorage. Unbeknownst to most parishioners, the incoming archbishop was in the back vestibule of St. Andrew’s preparing to celebrate his first Mass in the archdiocese.
Here is a link to the video of the Oct. 4 press conference in Anchorage where newly appointed Archbishop Paul Etienne is introduced to Alaskan reporters by retiring Archbishop Roger Schwietz.
Incoming Anchorage Archbishop Paul Eitenne spent his first full day in the archdiocese on Oct. 4. He began by celebrating Mass at St. Andrew Church and Eagle River before heading into Anchorage for a press conference announcing his new assignment. To view photos of these events, click on the links below.
So, what can you expect of me? I will give you my all. I love the Lord. I love being a priest. I love the church and the vision of the church’s full potential which is being charted by Pope Francis. Please be patient and pray with and for me as I come to know you, and know that from this moment I will be your humble servant who loves you with the heart of the Gentle Shepherd.
Pope Francis has named Bishop Paul Dennis Etienne, 57, to be the next archbishop of Anchorage, Alaska, and accepted the resignation of Archbishop Roger Schwietz, 76, who submitted his resignation last year upon turning 75 as required by the church’s canon law. Archbishop-elect Etienne has served as the bishop of Cheyenne Wyoming for the past eight years.
Last week at a community celebration at the Brother Francis Shelter, Catholic Social Services publicly honored Brother Bob Eaton and Brother Dave Sifferman for helping found the landmark Anchorage outreach.