News & Happenings across the Anchorage Archdiocese
The following is a roundup of news and upcoming events across the Anchorage Archdiocese.
Anchorage Archbishop’s Dec. Calendar
Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne is scheduled to participate in the following liturgies and events in the month of December.
Alaskans attend national youth conference to deepen Catholic faith
A group of enthusiastic Alaskan teens joined an estimated 20,000 youth from all across the United States for the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana Nov. 16-19. “This is the premier Catholic youth ministry event in the country that happens on a regular schedule,” said Matthew Beck, the director of youth and young adult ministry for the Anchorage Archdiocese. “And it’s a lot of fun.”
Archbishop Schwietz reflects on 50 years of priesthood — has successful heart surgery
Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Roger Schwietz has spent more than half of his 50 years of priestly ministry as a bishop and archbishop, first in Duluth, Minnesota, and then in Anchorage. But, at age 77 and anticipating his golden anniversary of ordination to the priesthood in December, he’s getting a chance to do once again what he truly loves in priestly ministry, being a pastor.
Anchorage man’s uncle – Fr. Casey – beatified by the Catholic Church
Growing up in Southeast Alaska, Carl Fundeen didn’t know he had a possible Catholic saint in his family tree. Since then, he has doubled down on learning as much as he can about the life and character of his great uncle — the now Blessed Father Solanus Casey.
Pioneering Alaskan religious sister dies
The adventurous and long-serving Sister Marie Ann Brent, of the Sisters of the Holy Family, died last month at the age of 83. According to her religious order, Sister Brent died suddenly on Nov. 22, while living at the order’s motherhouse in Fremont, California. A funeral service was held there on Nov. 29. A Memorial Mass for Sister Brent will be celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Church in Valdez on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.
Archbishop to share how Saint Catherine of Siena inspires his faith
Saint Catherine of Siena is the renowned 14th-century woman who played an eminent role in the history of the Catholic Church and in the life of Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne. On Dec. 12 Archbishop Etienne will share his own experience of how Saint Catherine influences his life and why she is still relevant and inspiring for people of the 21st century.
Do you have safe environment information readily available?
To promote a safe environment in the Archdiocese of Anchorage there is plenty of information that one should have access to, such as training materials, faith formation curriculum materials and policies and procedures.
UPDATE: Pope’s astronomer headed to Anchorage & Mat-Su to speak on ‘religious life of techies’
Brother Consolmagno’s talk, “God’s Mechanics: The Religious Life of Techies,” will look at how religion works in a society shaped by science and technology. How do scientists and engineers practice their religions?
God breaks us to heal and remake us in his image
CatholicAnchor.org Editor’s note: This interview by Nikolay Syrov with Father Michael Shields was originally published in Moscow. It is reprinted here with permission. When and how did you come up with the idea of setting up a mission to Magadan? Father Shields: I didn’t. God did. I came to Magadan first in 1989 and fell…