The following events are scheduled for the preparation and celebration of Deacon Robert Whitney’s ordination to the Catholic priesthood for the Archdiocese of Anchorage. All events are open to the public and the media.
Sister Joyce Ross, of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, died June 19 in St. Peter’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center near her religious order’s motherhouse in Albany, New York. She had been a Sister of Mercy for 66 years.
Anchorage native Deacon Robert Whitney, 31, is on the cusp of one of the biggest moments of his life. On Friday, June 23, after six years of seminary formation, he will be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Anchorage. He graduated in May from St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota, earning a dual master’s degree in divinity and religious education.
On June 29, Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne will receive his pallium from the hands of Pope Francis at the Vatican. The pallium, which can only be worn by the pope or a metropolitan archbishop, is a wool vestment that dates back to at least the fifth century. Wearing of the pallium symbolizes a bishop’s authority as well as his unity with the Holy See.
In an effort to “solicit the Christian community to pray for those in authority, in particular the Governor of Alaska,” the annual Alaska Governors Prayer Breakfast will take place June 24 in Anchorage with Gov. Bill Walker.
To think that God merely populates seminaries by sheer force of his will, or only calls men in private visions and inner stirrings is a misconception which does not reflect the experiences of the vast majority of seminarians and priests.
Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne will celebrate the closing Mass for youth gathered in Anchorage for the Alaska Catholic Youth Conference. The liturgy will begin at 11:15 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral. The public is invited to attend.
Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Roger Schwietz will celebrate the 5:30 pm. Mass tonight for teens attending the Alaska Catholic Youth Conference in Anchorage. The Mass will take place at St. Benedict Church and it is open to the public.
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.
