Alaska’s three bishops (Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne, Fairbanks Bishop Chad Zielinski and Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Roger Schwietz) and apostolic administrator for the diocese of Juneau (Fr. Pat Travers) fielded impromptu questions from a large gathering of Alaskan teens during day two of the Alaska Catholic Youth Conference.
Monika Scott is the chief financial officer for the Anchorage Archdiocese — a post that brings the born-and-raised Alaskan face-to-face with the challenge of funding one of the largest geographical dioceses in the nation.
In accomplishing their work, church law requires all bishops to maintain a chancery for their respective dioceses. Composed of various officials named by the archbishop or bishop, the chancery assists with the official governance of the archdiocese and helps the bishop carry out his pastoral ministry in union with the pope and the Catholic Church across the world.
Fairbanks Bishop Chad Zielinski will celebrate a 5:30 p.m. Mass at St. Benedict Church in Anchorage during day two of the Alaska Catholic Youth Conference. The June 6 liturgy is open to the public.
Catholic youth from across Alaska took part in the opening Mass for the Alaska Catholic Youth Conference. The liturgy took place June 5 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Anchorage. Earlier in the day the youth marched three miles during a Marian procession from St. Benedict Church to the co-cathedral. For the next three days youth will take part in workshops, liturgies, concerts, service projects and other activities to help deepen and inspire their faith.
I dedicate this article to Anya, my 14-year-old parishioner who just came to me and said she can’t tell her classmates she goes to church because they will call her stupid. Additionally, I dedicate this article to all teens who struggle to know and share their faith. We are with you and emphatically affirm that Christianity is the best way to be your best self.
On June 20 we celebrate World Refugee Day across the globe. This year’s theme is “Standing With Refugees.” People living as refugees are like any of us, and could, but for the grace of God, be any one of us.
I must confess, without shame as a writer, that I approach the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity each year with a sense of fear and trembling. Try as I might, to write something worthy of my God, I find that I fall short.
Dorothy Day writes: “We cannot love God unless we love each other. We know him in the breaking of the bread, and we are not alone anymore … We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.”
Popular singer-songwriter, Jesse Manibusan, is returning to Anchorage for this year’s Alaska Catholic Youth Conference (ACYC). As part of ACYC, the nationally known speaker and musician will give a free concert, June 5, 8-9:30 p.m. The concert will take place at Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage. All are welcome to attend, including those who are not registered for ACYC.