Parishioners of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau enjoy the wet, but fun annual Archbishop’s Golf Tournament to support seminarians

More than just a nice day golfing, the annual Archbishop’s Golf Tournament exists to support the archdiocese’s seminarians as they undergo rigorous studies to become blessings to the faithful.

This year’s event was held August 7 at Anchorage’s Moose Run Golf Course.

It is the archdiocese’s goal to “get a priest into every parish and mission” according to its website. The archdiocese recognizes the strength afforded to parishes and missions that have a resident priest able to provide Baptism, Reconciliation, the Eucharist, and the other sacraments regularly, as well as modeling behavior and providing assistance to those struggling or celebrating during times of joy. Key to this is good seminarian formation.

That’s why the archdiocese has and will continue to run the tournament, securing necessary funds for seminaries, building up our Catholic faith community in the long term through the formation of great new priests, and in the short term through bringing everyone together to enjoy a nice day of golf.

St. Anthony Kim in Anchorage’s team took first place, followed by A Wing and a Prayer in second, with Benton Bay Lions tying with the KPKP for third.

The golfers arrived at Moose Run Golf Course around 7:30 AM for refreshments and company. That morning was quite rainy, the streets flooded and spraying as cars took the Seward Highway to the course.

Fr. Pat Travers reiterated this as the golfers gathered in the chalet, enjoying a breakfast of biscuits and gravy, coffee, scones and company. “Pray for more men and women to enter religious life and the priesthood,” he said.

Two years ago the tournament saw a nice, sunny day. This and the past year’s, however, were far wetter in comparison. Last year did not see the rain let up even once. The rain took a break about halfway through this year’s tournament, the sun peeking out a handful of times. Nevertheless, the golfers were advised to drive only on the hardpack.

Pastor of St. Paul the Apostle in Juneau and Director of Seminarians, Fr. Mike Galbraith, when asked about the weather, said, “Well it ain’t Texas.”

Nevertheless, the golfers were able to thoroughly enjoy their time on the course.

Driving around on a golf cart was seminarian Daniel Kemper, whose beaming smile was reflected on the faces of each team playing that day. Growing up attending Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Anchorage, he was home from Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. He has completed three years already and is very much looking forward to the next five, which will see him begin his formal studies of Theology.

“It’s amazing and such a gift, even though there are challenges and struggles, but every vocation has its struggles,” he said.

Kemper was not the only seminarian in the archdiocese. Samuel Snively was as well, though he was not able to be present for the golf tournament due to already being at Mount Angel Seminary.

Riding around in golf carts, all were exposed to the elements, though some were more protected than others. Golfers came all dressed up for a deluge, while others showed in shorts. One claimed to be “the guy who was always out wearing shorts in Anchorage in January,” which was contested by his teammate who wondered how that was possible since he was “never in Anchorage in January.”

Though it was just cold enough to see breath fog the air and the weather was described as “volatile,” “mild,” and in many other ways, it was evident from the joking around and the smiling that the archbishop’s golf tournament was helping to build camaraderie among the parishioners of the archdiocese and to demonstrate the love they have for their seminarians and clergy.

Every interaction Kemper had with the faithful of the archdiocese showed how grateful they were for him pursuing his vocation and for all their clergy, including the recently ordained Fr. Edward Burke, who was described as “such a sweetheart” by one golfer. And Kemper was just as gracious back, talking and joking with them about many topics from the quality of their golfing to the interesting pop a golf ball makes when hit just right.

Many of the golfers speculated openly on the nature of Providence and vocations, noting how their prayers were answered in the brief parting of the rain, boughs still wet from the downpour earlier that morning and the Chugach Range still cloaked in fog. Some asked Kemper and the priests present what drew them to their vocation, and there were a number of answers, being motivated by the “man upstairs” among them.

While Fort Richardson could be heard in the background spending leftover ammunition, the faithful of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau one by one finished their trek on the golf course and returned to the chalet, escaping the rain just as it began to pick up again.

Inside they found the scoreboard, prizes, sloppy joes, cookies, and company calling them together to celebrate their seminarians, the future of the Church.