St. Benedict Church in Anchorage is facilitating a women’s retreat, June 30-July 1, given by the Sisters of Life at St. Therese’s Camp in Wasilla. The retreat is for all women ages 14-24 and will include talks on trust, prayer and the feminine genius. The sisters will share some of their vocation stories, followed by a question and answer session.
There is still time to register for the annual Alaska Catholic Youth Conference, which runs June 5-8 at Lumen Christi High School and Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral. The aim of the gathering is to inspire middle and high school students in their Catholic faith. Registration can be done online at archdioceseofanchorage.org or at St. Benedict Church and Lumen Christi on the opening day of the conference, June 5, at 1 p.m.
Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne is scheduled to attend the following liturgies and events during the month of June.
The following is a list of upcoming events, opportunities and news briefs from across the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska.
St. Therese’s Camp in Wasilla will launch its fourth summer with an extended season for area youngsters. Everything from team sports to archery, kayaking, swimming, volleyball and arts and crafts are offered. The camp also maintains a strong faith-based environment with a team of talented camp counselors. There’s even a priest who serves full-time for at least two of the five weeklong sessions.
During the month of June, we will conclude another Easter Season with the celebration of Pentecost, followed by some major solemnities (feast days). These are Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi (the Body & Blood of the Lord), the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, and Saints Peter and Paul. That is quite a line-up for any month of the year!
Vigil and funeral arrangements for long-time Alaskan and member of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, Sister Loretta Luecke have been finalized.
Recently retired Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Roger Schwietz will need to undergo surgery following a minor heart attack on April 28. The 76-year-old prelate is recovering well after being released from the hospital April 30, but he needs to have his aortic valve replaced.
The class at Lumen Christi, a 7-12th grade school, which is a ministry of St. Benedict Church, included 11 Catholics, one Lutheran and one Armenian Orthodox. Principal Brian Ross said his students were a particularly generous and community-minded group, contributing a notable number of service hours, far above the school requirement.
As the 13 graduates from Anchorage’s Lumen Christi High School enter a new phase in their faith, they are urged to keep focus on the final words of Jesus to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. This was the message of Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne during his baccalaureate Mass homily May 10 at St. Benedict Church.