July 27, 2007 - Issue #15
Local News | Opinion/Editorials | Letters to the Editor
Local News
Tracing the footsteps of the Apostles
Anchorage couple treks more than 1,400 miles on foot
Imagine the chance to hike thousands of miles along the same mythical forests as King Arthur, follow the same trail that Richard the Lion Heart took as he went off to battle in the Crusade and retrace the same steps of Saints Joan of Arc and Francis of Assisi.
Connie and Mark Meehleis of Anchorage have followed these legends three different times, the latest in 2006. They followed the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James from Namur, Belgium to Santiago, Spain.
The Camino is a pilgrimage tradition that dates back to medieval times when pilgrims retraced St. James the Great’s last journey from Jerusalem to his final resting place in Santiago.
The European Union estimates that close to 200,000 people will make the trip this year from all over the world — many of those being young college-age students backpacking across Europe.
While Mark and Connie are well past their college years, they have young hearts in their retiree bodies. Unlike many of their fellow middle-age counterparts, the Meehleis chose to walk roughly 16 miles a day as pilgrims — rather than stroll along a golf course or lay on the beach.
"Our primary purpose (for making the trip) was to be closer to God, to enhance our spiritual and interior life and appreciate the history and heritage of our Catholic faith," the couple said during a recent visit with Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz and staff from the archdiocese.
The couple made a conscious effort to approach their backpacking trip as pilgrims and to imitate the lives of the apostles. That meant living simply, taking only two changes of clothes, food, water and guidebooks, packed tightly into two 20-30 pound backpacks.
"It made life much simpler, and required us to live on faith," Connie said. "Life becomes much simpler, your concerns become simple questions like where will I lay my head, where will I eat?"
The couple said the experience of simple life and the solitude of the trail helped them develop an interior life.
"I call it walk therapy," Mark said. "You’re out walking, getting the blood moving — you get better conversations with one another."
Those conversations with other pilgrims were opportunities to share the faith. The couple said most of the people they encountered on the trail were doing it for adventure and not for spiritual reasons.
Mark had one opportunity to share his faith when he met a Frenchman named Renee. Renee, like Mark, experienced trouble with his feet swelling and blistering after many long days on the trial. The two men helped bandage each other’s feet at night.
"We even were helping support one another physically when we came into one town at the end of the day," Mark recalled.
Landmarks inspire
Besides camaraderie found along the trail, the couple also experienced the rich historical heritage of the Catholic Church on a daily basis.
"Every day you would always see some historic church or monastery from miles away," Mark said. "It was amazing to see a steeple off in the distance, knowing that pilgrims four hundred years ago saw that same landmark."
For Connie, one of the trip highlights was the chance to go to Mass in historic Gothic churches. The couple would splurge and take a brief pit stop in larger towns to enjoy Mass at these cathedrals, sometimes even several times a day.
The historical landmarks also provided encouragement, especially at the end of a tough day on the trail.
"We were struggling up this one hill, and to hear the Angelus bells, it helped give us a second wind," Connie said.
Traditionally, monasteries offered pilgrims refuge at night. That tradition continues today in the form of refugios, places where volunteers open their homes, businesses or churches to tired pilgrims at night.
This time around, the couple took two weeks out of their trip to help lodge other pilgrims at a refugio in Bercianos del Real Camino, Spain. The chance to offer hospitality to fellow pilgrims was an experience that required a bit of faith, because of the different languages and not knowing who would show up at night. The couple woke up early to clean the 400-year old rectory and fret about the evening meal.
"Then we would pray that God would send an angel to help us cook," Mark said.
Their prayers were always answered — they always had someone who knew their way around a kitchen. During their stay, they sampled various cooking styles, including German, Dutch and Hungarian.
The Camino offers many different trails for pilgrims, but all end at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the final resting place of Saint James the Greater.
After walking 2,300 kilometers (1,426 miles) over 106 days and wearing out two pairs of hiking boots across France and Spain, the Meehleis’ finally reached the end of their journey. Following tradition, they hugged a huge statue of St. James, said a prayer of thanksgiving and went to a special Mass. They were tired, but transformed.
"It was such a joyous, spiritual event that helped strengthen our mind, body and spirit," Connie said.
So after three long walks across Europe, does this mean that Connie and Mark plan to trade in their hiking boots and water bottles for beach sandals and mimosas?"Pray for us as we prepare to walk the ‘La Via Franciegena’ from Canterbury to Rome in 2009!" they said.
Youth ‘MAD’ about gang violence
Faith groups take a stand
"I’m going to ask another tough question—Should it be called FAT, SOLID, or YO MAD?" an adult asked.
Overwhelmingly the group of teens chose YO MAD.
It’s not a lesson in the latest lingo among youth. All of the above choices are acronyms to help name an inter-denominational faith group of teens formed in response to the recent spike in youth violence across Anchorage. YO MAD stands for Youth Making A Difference. It’s not only a name —it’s also a rallying cry for youth to take on leadership roles among their peers.
The adult that asked the question is Bishop Mike Keys, local head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Bishop Keys helped lead the youth group during a July 17 meeting at St. Anthony Church in Anchorage.
It was the third planning session for a wider youth forum planned in October.
After the recent surge of drive-by shootings and gang violence in Anchorage, Bishop Keys approached Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz and other Christian leaders in town to form the youth initiative. The religious leaders agreed that something had to be done on a community level, with many churches involved."One denomination is not going to be able to address this by themselves — it affects the whole town," said the Rev. Curt Karns, Executive Presbyter of the Presbyterian Church in Anchorage.
Besides the ecumenical cooperation, the religious leaders also knew it was important to get the youth actively involved.
Catholic youth share a lot in common with other Christians in town when it comes to dealing with the issue of violence in schools, Archbishop Schwietz told the Anchor.
"It’s good for our Catholic youth to see others of (a similar) faith and the challenges they go through," he added.
Organizers invited youth they thought would be good leaders. About a dozen teens accepted the challenge.
"I’ve had family and friends affected by violence. It’s happening to us, and we should be able to talk about it," said Stephanie Malone, a 15-year old student at East High School.
Even though the heads of three different denominations were at the meeting, the tone was welcome and informal and took place outside to take advantage of the sunny weather.
Bishop Keys made sure that youth were involved in every step of the conversation. In fact, at times he asked exclusively for the youth’s input. The youth were a bit shy at first, but gradually became involved and excited.
By the end of the meeting (the third of its kind), the youth had committed to run an inter-church forum on the topic in October with the adults agreeing to offer support from the sidelines.
"It’s great for adults to see youth so passionate," Rev. Karns said. "They have the energy and imagination to see something new and creative, more so than adults."
Young leaders in attendance felt confident they could have more impact on their peers than adults.
"Youth are more likely to come if another young person invites them versus an adult. They’re also more likely to listen to another kid than an adult," said Stephan Brandis, a parishioner at St. Anthony Church and a sophomore at Bartlett High School.
Brandis is a football player and natural leader, who took time off this summer to go to a Catholic leadership-training seminar in Minnesota. It’s youth like Brandis that church leaders hope to tap into.
The U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops wrote a letter Nov. 15, 2000 entitled "Responsibility, Rehab and Restoration." The letter addressed the issue of crime in the U.S. and urged the Catholic community to get involved with other churches and community leaders to pro-actively work towards prevention.
It’s an enormous task, and one Pope John Paul II addressed in correspondence with U.S. bishops in 2000.
"We are still a long way from the time when our conscience can be certain of having done everything possible to prevent crime," Pope John Paul II was quoted in the 2000 USCCB document. "If (everyone) in some way involved in the problem could develop this line of thought, perhaps humanity as a whole could take a great step forward in creating a more serene and peaceful society."
YO MAD is a concrete answer to that call and offers hope to pro-actively work towards peace in Anchorage.
Tridentine Mass in AK
Schwietz sees challenges, benefits in Latin Mass
On July 7, Pope Benedict XVI published the apostolic letter, "Summorum Pontificum," which called for a greater openness to the celebration of the 1962 form of the Roman liturgy, also known as the Tridentine Mass. This Mass is celebrated in Latin and was first published by Pope John XXIII in 1962. While the later 1970 form of the Roman Rite, which is celebrated in the vernacular, remains the ordinary form of the Mass, Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged that there is still a strong attachment to the older form, even by many younger Catholics. The pontiff’s letter calls priests and bishops to accommodate faithful Catholics who wish to use the "ancient Latin liturgical tradition." Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz spoke with the Anchor regarding local plans to implement the pope’s letter, which takes effect on Sept. 14, 2007. The pope’s letter is available at www.zenit.org/article-20071?l=english.
In previous communications with the Anchor, you expressed a desire to wait for the publication of Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic letter, "Summorum Pontificum," before making any decisions regarding the celebration of the Tridentine Mass in the Anchorage Archdiocese. Now that the letter is out, where are we?
I went through the document itself and the introductory letter by the pope. It needs to be studied a little bit further but from what we understand – I talked the letter over with bishops of the Northwest when they were in Alaska recently – it looks as though what the pope is doing is giving all priests the ability to say the Mass from the 1962 missal, the Tridentine rite, which was approved by Pope John XXIII. So what it looks like is religious houses can have the Mass when ever they want, a priest can say the Mass privately or with several other people whenever he wants and then, and this is still a little unclear yet, the pope says that if there is a stable group in a parish, the priest should listen to them if they are asking for the Tridentine Mass. On the other side, he is saying that the priest must be adequately prepared to celebrate the Mass well, which means the priest needs to know Latin and he needs to prepare the whole situation for people and have the proper vestments and so on. So there is quite a bit that needs to be defined but my impression is that the pope is really trying to stress the sacred nature of the liturgy. This might help those who are looking for that sacred expressing in the Tridentine Mass.
Here in Alaska there are not many priests prepared to celebrate the Tridentine Mass. What challenges does the Anchorage Archdiocese have in implementing the pope’s letter?
The only priest who has come forward so far to offer to celebrate the Tridentine Mass is Jesuit Father Armond Nigro. My intention is to gather all the priests together in the next month to talk to them about how to handle this. One of the possible ways is to see if there is a priest in each area of the archdiocese who might be interested in learning how to celebrate the Tridentine Mass. For example, there could be someone on the Kenai who could do it, someone in the Anchorage area, someone else in the Mat-Su Valley. For now, that remains to be seen. Right now, the only one who is prepared to celebrate the Tridentine Mass is Father Nigro.
Is there a stable group of Catholics in the Archdiocese who desire the Tridentine Mass?
I think there is. They are not all a part of the same parish but there is a group in Anchorage that has been asking for the Tridentine Mass, although in a certain sense, the pope is leaving it up to the individual pastors to make a decision. The pastors don’t have to come to me. My responsibility is to oversee the liturgy in general and to make sure it is done with dignity and is celebrated with dignity in the way it is prescribed. But it seems to me that there is a group of people who would like to see that so we will try to accommodate them.
Pope Benedict said he hoped for a greater level of unity by encouraging the celebration of the Tridentine Mass. Do you think it will bring greater unity?
One of the things the pope says very clearly, is that the post-Vatican II rite, the Novos Ordo, is the ordinary form of the Mass. He also adds that those who are requesting the extraordinary form (the Tridentine Mass) must also accept the validity and decrees of the Second Vatican Council. Some people who go to schismatic Latin Masses do not accept the Second Vatican Council. That could still be a stumbling block for those people. On the other hand there are a good number of people who do accept Vatican II but are still attached to the Latin form of the Mass and those people, I think, will feel much more welcomed and served by the Tridentine Mass. I think the majority of people are not condemnatory of Vatican II, they are just attached to that form of the Mass and so I think the majority of them will be at peace with that.
Is there anything else you want to add?
AB:We will be able to make some more specific recommendations once I meet with the priests to try and figure out how we can best handle this in our context. The pope’s apostolic letter is effective as of September 14, 2007. We will talk about it and see how to best handle it. I must say though, I do remember serving that mass myself as an altar server when I was a youngster. But when I was ordained a priest, which was in December of 1967, we already had the new form of the Mass, in the vernacular, and so that is how we learned to say Mass, we didn’t learn it in Latin.
Alaska women take time to discern religious vocations
With help from a community of local sisters, two Anchorage women recently devoted a day to discerning life’s biggest question: "What does God want of me?"
The vocation director for the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul’s Western province came to Anchorage recently to conduct a day of discernment for Alaska women interested in consecrated life.
Sister Trang Truong led a day of prayer and reflection on July 14 for two women at the Daughters’ home in East Anchorage.
The day was a success, according to Sister Truong, who said more women would come to these gatherings if they realized how beneficial and freeing they can be.
"A lot of people are so afraid that if they attend a day of discernment, they’ll be asked to sign on the dotted line," laughed the 40-year-old sister, who is a native of Vietnam. On the contrary, the day is to explore "which vocation is the most life-giving for them – and it’s not necessarily the religious life."
A discernment day can help women "deepen their prayer lives and become more open and attentive to the Holy Spirit working in their lives," Sister Truong said. She added that it’s interesting to find that many women don’t take opportunities for spiritual direction, which is a vital part of discerning the direction of one’s life.
Sister Truong’s trip to Alaska was inspired by her desire to reach out to far-flung areas where the Daughters of Charity have missions. People in these places often find it difficult to attend one of the two or three discernment retreats held annually at the motherhouse in Los Altos, California.
Sister Kathleen Powers, who serves in outreach at St. Anthony Church in Anchorage, organized the discernment day. She said she called all the parishes, asking them to advertise the event. The Catholic Anchor also ran an ad.
But Brother Craig Bonham, an Oblate of Mary Immaculate who is the archdiocesan vocation director, gave her the best tip.
"Brother Craig told me personal invitation is where it’s at," she said, so Sister Powers invited some women – and those were the two who showed up.
The day included a sharing of personal vocation stories by four Daughters of Charity, including Sister Truong and Sister Powers.
"These vocation stories were an eye-opener for them – the paths of God are mysterious," Sister Truong said.
Also participating were Sister Donna Kramer, director of Native Ministry for the archdiocese, and Sister Jean Marie Williams, who serves in Magadan, Russia, but is visiting in Anchorage for several weeks.
Sister Truong said the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, who were founded in France in the 17th century with a charism to serve the poor, are doing well at attracting new members to their community, particularly in the province of the West.
"We have two in the seminary right now," she said, adding that the term "seminary" is similar to "novitiate." Two others are in the "pre-postulancy" – a period of initial discernment.
In addition to that, the sisters maintain a mailing list of 50-70 women who have expressed an interest in religious life, with between 10-20 in active discernment. One woman, Sister Truong said, is volunteering in a New Mexico mission while praying over her future with the order.
There are 126 professed sisters in the western province of the Daughters of Charity.
Islamic scholars bring message of engagement to Alaska in late August
Larger program aims to promote religious understanding and interfaith dialogue
The year 1965 was a landmark for inter-religious connection. The Second Vatican Council issued "Nostra Aetate," a document concerning church relations with non-Christians that offered unprecedented affirmative understandings of other religions. The United States Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1965, which became the portal to a whole new level of American ethnic diversity. With the addition of significant numbers of conversions among African Americans, the United States is now home to many Muslims.
While "Nostra Aetate" encouraged Catholic scholars to engage in dialogues with Muslim authorities, such endeavors have been of little concern to most American Catholics. While American neighborhoods experience a new level of ethnic and religious diversity, most Americans have little knowledge of the beliefs and practices of their neighbors. This situation is no longer adequate. Global issues relating to the Muslim world call us to gain a greater understanding of Islam. It can no longer be simply an inter-religious ideal or affirmation of the reality of religious pluralism; it is an issue that impacts international politics. Pope Benedict XVI declared in Cologne on August 20, 2005 an understanding between Catholics and Muslims "cannot be reduced to an optional extra;" it is "a vital necessity on which in large measure our future depends."
Two years ago the Cardinal Newman Chair of Catholic Theology at Alaska Pacific University received an exceptional grant from Larry and Wilma Carr to fund public education for the Anchorage community in regards to religion and public life. A steering committee consisting of faculty from APU, UAA and Wayland Baptist, along with Catholic, Jewish, Anglican and Protestant religious leaders, Archbishop Francis T. Hurley and two other APU Trustees engaged in a wide-ranging consultation with religious, educational, cultural, and civic leaders in the Anchorage area. The intent of this committee was to focus on a topic that was not already addressed in the wider community and to fashion a program of community self-education worthy of national recognition and imitation.
After much discussion the committee decided to use the grant to foster deeper understandings of Islam. While Anchorage is home to a Muslim community estimated to be over 2,000, there are no Muslim scholars or scholars of Islam in Anchorage. Dr. John Borelli, Special Assistant for Inter-religious Initiatives to the President of Georgetown University and long experienced in Catholic-Muslim dialogues, assisted the committee in shaping this project. In addition, the steering committee sought collaboration with many other organizations and institutions in our area. Recently leaders in the Islamic Community Center of Anchorage, Alaska became active in fostering and expanding the plans.
This program, "Engaging Islam: Religion, Cultures, Politics" will consist of a nine-month effort moving from the halls of our three universities — APU, UAA and Wayland Baptist University — into venues that range from local theaters, museums, libraries, public broadcasting, and religious education classes. Mary-Margaret Stein (known to many as the manager of Stein’s Church Supply) returned to Alaska to assume the role of overall coordinator of this program. Already a group of Jewish, Christian and Muslim women have met to begin a dialogue. In addition the program got an unexpected herald when Cyrano’s staged "The Perfect Prayer," by Suehyla El-Attar, the story of Muslim parents from Egypt and their American born daughter.
The program will begin on August 26 and 27 when Dr. John Borelli offers a free public lecture as well as introductory sessions for clergy and educators. There will be a special session for educators during the afternoon of Aug. 26; another for clergy the morning of Aug. 27; a third session of either clergy or educators will be held in the afternoon of Aug. 27. All are invited to the free public lecture on "Christian-Muslim Dialogue" from 7-8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 26, in Grant Hall Theater on the APU campus.
Between Aug. 28 and Sept. 20, from 7-9:30 p.m., I will offer a two-credit course "Foundations of Islam" on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings. Any interested adult may audit this course as a Newman Observer for $100. Another somewhat more advanced course will be offered over 11 weeks on Wednesday evenings starting in February. We hope that book clubs and other groups will sponsor related films and discussions throughout the fall season. The Bear Tooth Theater, and the Anchorage Museum plan to show relevant films throughout the year. Resources, times and places will soon be posted on a special web designed for the program. Included in these listing will be the bibliographies for readers at various levels, including recent novels for those who approach difficult issues through fiction. Major authorities on Islam will make presentation throughout the academic year.
As part of this larger effort I will offer the Catholic Anchor four articles in a series called "What Catholics should know about Islam." In the first segment I will discuss Muhammad, the Prophet and the origins of Islam. In the second I will discuss the Quran and the differences between Catholic and Muslim understandings of Revelation. In the third I will discuss the Five Pillars of Islam as well as the various meanings of Jihad. The fourth segment will discuss distinctions between Shi’a Sunni and Sufis. Each segment will list resources for further study. Other notices will give details of our speakers.
This program will not solve the problems of our world. It will foster a respectful understanding of Islam. It will acknowledge problems within Islam and the reality of American fears of Islam. It will not deal with the conflict in Palestine, even while acknowledging that many issues of contemporary enmity towards the west in the Muslim world stem from this situation.
I hope that you will take advantage of this extra-ordinary effort. As we come to the upcoming national elections, it is our expectation that this program will help us ask better questions of our candidates. At the same time we hope that through this program we will come to a greater understanding of the Islamic religion and perhaps even foster friendship with our Muslims neighbors in the Anchorage area.
The writer is professor of religious studies and holds the Cardinal Newman Chair of Catholic Theology at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage.
News & Notes
Kids need help with school supplies
The HUGSS project — Helping Us Give Schools Supplies — and the Coats For Kids Project need volunteers the week of Aug. 6. Distribution of schools supplies and coats to children from low-income families will be held Aug. 9-10. HUGSS is a collaborative partnership between Catholic Social Services, Lutheran Social Services, Wells Fargo Bank, Salvation Army, and the Anchorage School District. The program helps prepare approximately 5,700 Anchorage kids for a successful school year. The goal is not only to provide basic supplies but to also foster an excitement for life-long learning. For more information, call the HUGSS hotline at 644-8477.
Theology outdoors
Two brothers from the Community of St. John are scheduled to lead a retreat on Aug. 16-19 for people between the ages of 20 to 40 years. The four-day retreat will be held in Girdwood. For more information, call 243-2195.
Marriage support
Retrouvaille of Alaska is a ministry that supports couples who may be suffering through a difficult marriage. The next Retrouvaille retreat is set for Oct. 4-6 in Anchorage. For more information, call (907) 360-2227 or visit www.HelpOurMarriage.com
Help for addictions
Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Anchorage is hosting a retreat based on the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. The retreat, which walks people through the spirituality of the 12 Steps, is open to anyone interested in recovery from alcoholism and other addictions. For more information, call (907) 346-2343.
Partnership provides safe haven for youth
‘Neighborhood Play’ participants Kelly and David, along with Camp Counselor Melissa McDermott give Father Fred Bugarin a token of their appreciation on July 16 for opening St. Anthony Church to the Neighborhood Play Day Camp this summer. The youth program is run in partnership with the Municipality of Anchorage and the ‘Anchorage Faith in Action Congregation Together’ group. A barbecue with St. Anthony Church, AFACT and Mayor Mark Begich celebrated the success of the Mountain View program on July 16 at St. Anthony Church. Mayor Begich and the Municipality of Anchorage committed to help operate and fund the day camp through the Parks and Recreation Department this summer after several years of planning.
Dozens of youth throughout the community participate daily in the program. One participant — who will be a freshman at Bartlett — was even recruited by the Parks and Recreation Department for future employment.
Grandmother Joyce Berkley said her two grandchildren can’t wait to go to the program and have even offered to do chores like packing lunches to ensure they get to go. Parent Tami Dietrich is thankful for the program and told the Anchor she appreciates the chance it gave her special-needs daughter to learn how to socialize and ease the transition to kindergarten this coming fall.
"I also like the field trips and structured activities. It’s a totally guided (program) and not just free play," Dietrich added.
Parishioners at St. Anthony Church and people in the neighborhood say the program offers youth a safe haven of constructive activities during the summer.
"This program is a concrete expression of the church’s mission to spread and proclaim the good news," Donna Gum said. Gum is one of the parishioners at St. Anthony who are active in working to get the various organizations to come together to support the youth program.
Archbishop's Column
The archdiocese welcomes a surge of new priests to Alaska
Vocations to the ministerial priesthood are on a slight rise in some dioceses across the country. The Anchorage Archdiocese has been blessed by a number of ordinations the past few years, as well as by what seems to be a serious interest in the possibility of a life of service in the church by young men and women alike.
Still, in terms of the number of ordained priests, we remain short despite the generous service by our priests, a number of retired priests, priests from other dioceses, and priests from the Philippines, Korea and India.
Thus, I consider ourselves deeply blessed by the arrival of additional priests to help serve our people. With a new influx of priests, a large number of clergy moves are taking place this summer, which the consultors and I believe will benefit parishes as well as the priests involved.
As you know, Father James Oberle, S.S. arrived to serve Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Big Lake. Father Oberle will also assist with diaconate and priestly formation and other ongoing formation programs of the archdiocese. Father William Fournier will start Aug. 1 as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Wasilla, giving Father Kasparaj Mallavarapu the opportunity to work in a team ministry setting with Father Tom Lilly, Deacon Ken Donohue and the staff at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Anchorage. Fathers Oberle and Fournier, together with Father Tom Brundage in St. Michael’s Church in Palmer, will guide the new Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School in Wasilla.
Our two priests from the Archdiocese of Cotabato, Philippines, Fathers Ben Torreto and Jaime Mencias, will serve at St. Andrew Church in Eagle River, while Father Leo Walsh completes his doctorate in Theology in Rome.
On the Kenai Peninsula, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate have agreed to accept as a community mission the parishes of the Western area: Our Lady of the Angels in Kenai; Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Soldotna; St. Peter the Apostle in Ninilchik; and St. John the Baptist in Homer. Fathers Anthony Dummer, OMI, Andrew Sensenig, OMI, and Joseph Dowling, OMI will arrive in Alaska at the beginning of September to start forming themselves as an apostolic team for the Kenai Peninsula. Brother Craig Bonham, OMI, who served here the past six years as vocation director and as my assistant will join them. The women religious and lay leaders who served in these parishes will continue their ministry.
Having completed his pastoral duties at St. Patrick’s while Father Scott Medlock was on sabbatical, Father Ronnie Licayan will become pastor of St. Mary Church in Kodiak and be the chaplain to St. Mary School on Aug. 15. Father Nelson Marilag will return to Anchorage from Kodiak for studies as well as priestly ministry on the circuit.
Finally, in September Father Damian Vargas is set to arrive from Ecuador to provide sacramental ministry with our Hispanic community.
We also welcome two new Dominican priests, Fathers John Mellein O.P. and Vincent M. Kelber, O.P., along with Scholastic Brother Mark Francis, O.P. to our Cathedral parish.
The period of adjustment to new pastoral leadership can be stressful, but I firmly believe that Divine Providence is at work in our midst enabling us to grow into an ever more vibrant local church as we continue to implement our archdiocesan Pastoral Plan. Let us welcome our new ministers with Alaskan hospitality and Christian joy.
The writer is Archbishop of the Anchorage Archdiocese.
Columns
Communion unites us both with Christ and each other
This week, let’s take a special look at the Rite of Communion. As mentioned previously, the concepts of sacrifice and meal are inseparable. Now that the sacrifice has been offered, we approach to receive the fruits of that sacrifice.
The Rite of Communion begins appropriately with the Lord’s Prayer. The dialogue continues with the Embolism and Doxology. The Rite of Peace is very important. It is not just a time to get chummy with those around you. It should be a small examination of conscience and a sincere wish for Christ’s peace for others.
In the Breaking of the Bread with the Agnus Dei or "Lamb of God" the host is broken in recollection of Christ’s body broken on the cross. You may notice that the celebrant will break off a small piece or "fractio" and place it in the chalice. This is a reminder of the ancient practice where a small fraction of the host from the Mass celebrated by the bishop was brought to the Mass at the parish and commingled as a way of expressing the parish’s communion with him.
Acknowledging that we are not worthy, but confident in God’s power to save, we approach the altar. You may receive under one or both species. The entire reality of the Eucharist is present in both the host and the wine. As you approach the Eucharist, a reverent bow is especially appropriate. It is not necessary to genuflect. Your "Amen" is your statement of faith that you are truly receiving the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ. You may receive the host either in the hand or on the tongue. If receiving on the hand, place your left hand over your right and open your palm completely. Once the host is placed there, use your right hand to place it in your mouth and consume it immediately. Similarly, with the cup, grasp the chalice firmly and take a small sip, handing it reverently back to the minister.
As the Rite of Communion progresses it becomes clear that there are two dynamics of communion: communion with one another and communion with Christ. Our posture reflects this. To reinforce communion with one another, we are asked to stand, as we are able, until the last person has received. A communion hymn sung at this time reinforces this. Once everyone has received, it is very important to have time for personal gratitude and reflection for our communion with Christ. This is the time once again to raise your intention to Christ. Finally, the Prayer after Communion collects these prayers and offers them to God, thus ending the Rite of Communion.Next time we will talk about the final part of the Mass, the Dismissal or Rite of Sending.
‘What am I doing here?’
There are certain days in my life (not many, fortunately) when I sit at my desk and say to myself: "Self, what are you doing here?" Actually, I think I know what I am "doing here." The better question is "Why am I here at all, in this office, in this city, this world, this planet, this universe, this galaxy? How did I get here in the first place? Did God actually think about me, this individual human person, from all eternity?" I surely hope so. Why else should I continue pecking away at this word processor week after week?
Let me insist, however, that I am not the first person to ask that question.
Socrates, the Greek philosopher introduced it once by pointing out that "An unexamined life is not worth living." That tells me immediately that life is a series of questions, a set of mysteries that can both entice us and puzzle us. Ultimately, Socrates probably wished to have us understand that in this life the questions are more important than the answers. I must also admit here and now that the question, "What am I doing here" was not originally my own reason for writing this column. An insight came my way from three sources: First from the author of the Book of Ecclesiastes, Qoheleth, who insisted that "All things are vanity." The human person constantly toils with anxiety over his work on earth. "Even at night his mind is not at rest." Second, from the Gospel of Luke wherein Jesus notes, "A man may be wealthy but his possessions do not guarantee him life."
Thus we are back to Socrates’ suggestion that happiness consists in asking the right questions about ultimate issues in this life.
Thirdly, I am also much indebted to two fine writers who recently wrote columns in the Spring Issue of Notre Dame Magazine under the title:
"What Am I Doing Here?" The authors are Father Nicholas Ayo C.S.C., retired professor of American Studies at Notre Dame and Brian Doyle, Notre Dame graduate and editor of Portland Magazine. I found some of their answers to that question absolutely fascinating: Father Ayo, for instance, will say: "I am here to learn how to be human. I am here to learn to care and not to care. I am here to learn how to be a displaced person, a nomad who has no lasting city. I am here to learn how to believe wholeheartedly and to love passionately. I want to learn how to be human as Jesus was human."
Brian Doyle, always the colorful word-crafter, puts it simply: He wants nothing more than to be a storyteller. "I am here," he says, "to point at shards of holiness." He is convinced that all stories are salvation stories because they have a way of asking the human questions, who are we and why are we here? Nothing, therefore, escapes Brian’s notice, whether it be gobs of laundry, piles of dishes or the "chaos and hubbub of children." But also the sound of "thrushes in late winter." "And I am here," he says, "for the way dragonflies and damselflies do that geometric zigzag thing in the air totally effortlessly, which absolutely knocks me out."
It occurs to me to say, therefore, that there is a reason why we are here, but the reason needs constant reflection, daily search for meaning. It is as though God put all this immensity, this beauty, this mystery in our path and asks us not to figure it out, but to simply to gaze upon it with appreciation. Perhaps Qoheleth was wrong: All things are not vanity! There is a reason why we are here if only to search out the sacred and be delighted.
The writer is archdiocesan director of Pastoral Education. He also serves as canonical pastor and coordinator of parishes without resident pastors.
Rain or shine, our summers inspire
As I write these words, the sky outside is grey and overcast.
I’ve heard some people complain, "This is a summer just like last summer (meaning cool and cloudy, hence, bad). We were spoiled by the summers we had for a couple of years (hot and sunny, hence, good)."
I actually think this is a great summer.
It started with Memorial Day, when the national news showed people picnicking and parading in their shorts and shirtsleeves under sweltering skies. Meanwhile, our neighbor kids were doing a traditional Memorial Day event as well: they were running through sprinklers on their lawn.
The only difference: they were wearing their raincoats. Okay, this is Alaska.
I remember the first hard rainfall we had this spring. I hadn’t heard rain since last fall, I explained to my brother in Nebraska. So when the rain began falling hard in the middle of the night, the strange noise woke me up.
"I hardly expected rain," I told him. "When I went to bed late last night, the sun was shining brightly."
"Stop right there," he said, "Only in Alaska could you make a statement like that."
Okay, that’s what I love about summer in Alaska: you can’t take the light away.
I love the early spring best, when we’re still bundled up in our jackets but the sun is probably shining more than it will all summer, just as we’re emerging from the cavern of an Alaskan winter.
And then there’s the phone call with my other Midwestern brother: "It’s about 87 today," he says, "but tomorrow it’s supposed to get hot again."
And someone here is complaining?
And the rain? Well, I confess, I love rainy days. Give me a wet, rainy day, with puddles and windshield wipers flapping rhythmically and the usual mini-lakes filling up on the roads that have lousy drainage and the dog standing whining at the door trying to decide if she really has to pee badly enough to brave it. I love those days.
Is it the Irish in me? I have a friend who’s visited Ireland a couple of times who says he won’t go back until they put a roof over the whole country. But without the rain, neither Ireland nor Southcentral Alaska would be the feast of green it is.
Truthfully, I think it’s the Nebraska farmer in me. My brother and I talked about it the other day. It’s been six weeks since it’s rained in his part of Nebraska and he owns several hundred acres of corn and soybeans.
"I love rainy days!" he exclaimed when I told him I was peering out my window at a gentle rainfall.
When we were kids, we had a statue of St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, in our home. Mass was always followed, spring through fall, by the prayer for a good harvest. We prayed for rain like other people prayed for the conversion of Russia. (And if you’re too young to remember, we did pray for that regularly.)
And when it did rain, it was like salvation pouring down, prayers being answered literally from the heavens. No wonder I love rainy days.
If we have light and no ice, what more could we want? Yeah, maybe the fish biting, and for me, lots of good books.
Even if you’re working full-time, you’ve probably eased off a bit for the summer. Church committees are mostly dormant and no one’s taking classes. Whether it’s rainy or not, it’s our personal time to pray, read, relax, reflect on the grace and beauty of our land and of our lives.
The writer is a freelance writer, preschool teacher and mother of three. She lives in Anchorage.
National debate competition spoke volumes to Alaska teen
During the past school year, I participated in a debate, drama, and speech competition with a speech on organ donation — a topic I am very passionate about.
When I wrote the speech for competition I concentrated more on spreading the message about the need for organ donors than on winning anything. Nevertheless, at the 2007 Alaska State Tournament, I placed first with my speech in the original oration category. In doing so, I qualified for the 2007 National Forensics Competition. It was an opportunity I only dreamed about.
On June 13, my coach from Lumen Christi, Mary Ruebelmann-Benavides, her daughter, her sister, my mom and I all got on a plane late at night to fly to the lower-48 for the national tournament. Our final destination: Wichita, Kansas.
Registration was the next day, so we headed to downtown Wichita to check in and get our schedule. There was also a big expo there with all kinds of forensics and debate schools and organizations. Thousands of people were on hand. It was a huge turnout with people from all over the U. S. and the world. In going down there I expected to compete against 49 other orators – one from each state. When I received the schedule, I realized I would be competing against, not 49, but rather 250 other individuals. Needless to say, I was taken aback and the idea that I might have the slightest chance against these other orators quickly evaporated.
The reality of so many competitors got my head out of the clouds and I was able to meditate on my true purpose for being there. Yes, I was there to compete and do my best, and yes, I was sure to have a good time, but I also had to remember that my topic was on organ donation. I was there to spread the word about an issue that is rarely addressed today. I remembered my original purpose for writing the speech in the first place. If I changed even one person’s mind during the competition, if one person considered what I said and signed up to become a donor, then that was a life saved…and that was worth more than a national trophy.
The next day competition started and I had four rounds practically back-to-back. It was intense and exhausting but I shared my message with a great many people and I heard messages of others, which was one of the things I had looked forward to. The other teens addressed topics such as the lack of tolerance in today’s society, the problem of a fast paced, over-scheduled lifestyle, and a lack of integrity.
I participated in a total of six preliminary rounds and, while I did not advance in competition, I was still able to meet many new people, form friendships, and best of all, attend the party at the local water park. Needless to say, I was perfectly fine with not advancing.
Overall, the trip to nationals was a fantastic experience. I hope to go back next year when the tournament is in Las Vegas.
I’d like to thank the many people who helped make this journey possible. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help, guidance, and support of my coach, teammates, and family. I thank everyone who helped finance our trip, especially the many Catholic attorneys in Anchorage who supported us financially, as well as everyone who helped with the Lumen Christi garage sale. Thank you all so much for making this summer one to remember.
The writer is a student at Lumen Christi Jr./Sr. High School in Anchorage.
Hardworking saints can be found living in Anchorage
Last summer I attended a life changing 30-day silent retreat at Holy Spirit Center. During the retreat I had a dream to move to Alaska, to work and study in the Catholic Church in order to one day teach young people about Jesus through film and television.
I told my sister and she agreed to come with me because we both believed there needed to be a new way to reach the youth of our day.
My sister and I resigned from jobs in Hollywood and moved to Alaska in January. We planned to do an independent documentary on faith, a personal search for Christ within and to learn about Our Blessed Mother through the apparitions in Lourdes, Fatima and Medjugorje. Before we began our documentary, we wanted concrete knowledge of our Catholic faith from individuals we trusted and admired. The Holy Spirit Center provided more than we could have ever hoped.
Rosemary Insley, the executive director, opened doors for us and Jesuit Fathers Vincent Beuzer and Armond Nigro agreed to teach us a living Catholic faith grounded in daily communion with Jesus.
In January, I joined Holy Spirit Center as their receptionist and administrative assistant. The first month was the hardest. Weather was freezing, days were dark and lonely and faces were new. However, the staff at Holy Spirit Center and the Resurrection Chapel parishioners welcomed us with open arms.
During our stay, both Father Beuzer and Father Nigro taught us from scripture, readings, Church history and most importantly by example. Visibly, they live simply and embody Christ.
Being in the presence of these two holy men was inspiring. They taught the truth about the reality of sin, the daily grace needed to live a holy (whole) life and the extraordinary and unimaginable love of God, in Jesus. They taught me humility and to not judge, especially from the exterior. They taught me forgiveness for others and myself; and to especially seek and "dig" deep down inside for God’s truth, even if my pride forbids it. These priests do not care about stature or power; they care about sharing Jesus in their words and actions.
Many days, I’d walk into Father Nigro’s office or meet Father Beuzer for a late night coffee with what seemed like the world on my back. Even with retreats to prepare, they stopped everything at a moment’s notice. They spoke in such gentleness and compassion. As Mother Teresa says, "Love until it hurts." It is one thing to hear those words. It is another thing to be a young Catholic and experience holiness through the actions of another. Mother Teresa’s words were alive through the actions of Father Beuzer and Father Nigro.
During this past winter, I watched these two Jesuits work harder than I’ve ever worked in all my life.
One priest would say two Masses on Sunday while the other flew to villages in Alaska to give weekend retreats to families and laity. Then it was back to the ministry of Holy Spirit Center during the week.
Finally summer came. In June and July, Holy Spirit Center gave an 8-day, 5-day and 30-day retreats under the direction of both Jesuits. Religious and laity from around the United States spent days reflecting in our chapels, praying the Stations of the Cross, and growing in the Holy Spirit. What I found most amazing as I observed these silent retreats, was watching how people walked in. Some retreatants looked as though the world had beat them down, emptiness not only in their eyes but also in their very bodies. When the retreat was finished, they walked out with God’s twinkle in their eye ,ready to serve Christ.
As an employee, retreatant and new disciple, Holy Spirit Center has been my saving grace and my sister’s too. In the past eight months our lives as Catholics have changed, our faith renewed. In our opinion, the Jesuit priests are the closest we have met to saints. Their actions define what Christ embodies. They give their lives to Jesus and through their dedication and commitment, they bring others closer to him daily.
On July 30, at 7 p.m., there will be a Mass at Holy Spirit Center in the Resurrection Chapel. Following this will be an all night prayer vigil for the ministry and mission of Holy Spirit Center. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed from Monday evening until noon on Tuesday. I invite you to come to Holy Spirit Center, pray with us, so together we may serve Christ in one another; forgive and live in union with the Holy Spirit.
The writer works at Holy Spirit Center in the Anchorage Archdiocese.
Editorials
They are servants of God
According to the most recent data from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, there were more than 776,000 religious sisters serving the Catholic Church throughout the world last year. About 66,000 of those worked in the United States, with 36 serving the Anchorage Archdiocese. These women run schools, teach religious education classes, and care for those suffering from sickness, handicaps and infirmities. They help feed Alaska’s hungry and visit forgotten prisoners. In the absence of priests, they help run parishes, celebrate communion services and provide a pastoral presence for Catholics throughout Alaska. Their ministry touches nearly every aspect of the archdiocese’s ministry. They also offer countless prayers both for the church and the redemption of the world. These women of God come from all walks of life and embody every imaginable personality type. Their common thread, however, is that they have offered themselves to Christ and the work of his kingdom.
It was good to hear that two Alaska women recently attended a vocation discernment day in Anchorage. The event, which was sponsored by local religious sisters, was a chance for women to explore a possible call to the religious life. It is a calling that needs to be celebrated, encouraged and supported, especially in these times when the number of women religious is in steady decline around the world. In many places, these women have been the bedrock behind our Catholic schools, hospitals, social service programs and countless other ministries.We would all do well to thank these tireless servants of God and pray that others take up the cross and follow their lead.
Everything that the faith itself allows
Pope Benedict XVI calls Catholics to embrace a truly liberated view of the church in his recent apostolic letter, "Summorum Pontificum." In the cover letter to the document, the pope said his reason for issuing the letter was to bring about a reconciliation in the heart of the Church, especially as it relates to Catholics who are attached to liturgical forms before Vatican II.
"Many people who clearly accepted the binding character of the Second Vatican Council, and were faithful to the Pope and the Bishops, nonetheless also desired to recover the form of the sacred liturgy that was dear to them," the pope writes.
Vatican II allowed for the Roman Rite to be celebrated in vernacular language as well as Latin but the primary reason people wanted to continue the older liturgical form was "because in many places celebrations were not faithful to the prescriptions of the new Missal but the latter actually was understood as authorizing or even requiring creativity, which frequently led to deformations of the liturgy which were hard to bear," the pope writes.
Now Pope Benedict has opened the doors wide to the older Latin form of the Roman Rite. In most places, Mass will undoubtedly continue to be celebrated according to the ordinary form – in the vernacular. But now, any priest is also free to celebrate the same Roman Rite in Latin so long as he is properly trained.
The pope acknowledges that few priests know Latin anymore and the chances of Latin Masses drastically expanding are unlikely. But where the pre-Vatican II Mass is celebrated, the pope expressed hope that it would enhance an appreciation of the ordinary form of the Mass, when people see "the sacrality which attracts many people to the former usage."
The two liturgical forms can coexist – side-by-side – each informing and enriching the other.
In an interview with the Anchor (see page 1), Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz said his impression is that the pope is really trying to stress the sacred nature of the liturgy.
The Tridentine Mass is full of sacred gestures, bows, many signs of the cross and lots of billowing incense. These are not fundamentally foreign elements to Catholics. Our faith is full of gestures, symbols, bended knees and drops of Holy Water.
In the next few months, Archbishop Schwietz said he plans to consult with local priests to find out who wishes to learn how to celebrate the Tridentine Mass and to determine how best to accommodate those Catholics who are attached to the older Mass.
This new turn of events should not be viewed as a threat or rollback of Vatican II reforms. Most likely the bulk of us will continue to attend Mass in our native tongue but let us also welcome this broader view of the church. We’d do well to at least occasionally participate in a local celebration of the Tridentine Mass. This sacred rite has an ancient and continuing place in our ever-unfolding church.
"There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal," the pope writes in his new letter. "In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…"
Letters to the Editor
Archbishop’s column is ‘courageous’
Archbishop Schwietz’ gentle reminder and explanation on the duty of married couples to avoid contraception marks only the second time I have ever heard or read this from a Catholic cleric (a third time was from a Baptist pastor at a pro-life gathering).
Much of the dissent in the church today can be traced to rebellion regarding contraception. The relative silence of many priests and bishops for nearly 40 years regarding Humanae Vitae has not helped.
With Archbishop Schwietz’ courageous column, perhaps many Catholics who either contracept as married couples or encourage it by silence and advice, will see God’s truth and seek reconciliation.
Might we find these truths included in the Confirmation CCD curriculum? Aside from a marriage prep seminar, what better time to explain this loving truth to Catholics on the cusp of marriage and adulthood?
Editorial on religious habits misread
When I first came across the Anchor’s editorial of June 15, "A spiritual habit must reflect the soul," it hardly occurred to me that anything controversial was afoot. But a column by Effie Caldarola in the June 29 issue, "Holiness is wrapped in many garbs," was so obviously opposed to the earlier piece that I was intrigued, and re-read each in the light of the other.
I was puzzled that Caldarola should have supposed the earlier editorial "to pit those religious who wear traditional garb against those who don’t," in the context of an obscure reference to "a tendency to want to move back into a fortress-against-the-modern-world mentality." The editorial writer clearly intended no such thing, but was at pains to observe that "the collar or robe or habit does not make the spiritual man or woman." In fact, the editorial was so purely factual it could have appeared as a news item, simply noting the real effect that real habits were observed to have on real teens at a real encounter. There was not a word of condemnation or condescension toward unhabited religious.
No less puzzling was Caldarola’s complaint, "Doesn’t Christ have more urgent things for us to do than judging someone’s holiness by the clothing they wear...?" The very title, as well as the substance, of the editorial had indicated quite the opposite: "A spiritual habit must reflect the soul" (otherwise it is a false and empty sign).
Since I delayed sending this letter, I can now add that Sister Lorraine Reaume’s letter in the July 13 issue, while more nuanced, is similarly defensive with respect to a position erroneously ascribed to the original editorial: "It ... suggests that the only legitimate way for a religious woman to witness is to wear a habit." There was no such suggestion. Why, I wonder, is so much being read into those original few paragraphs?
All human life deserves respect
Procedures like abortion and other forms of research that destroy human life are ungodly and we must do something about it. My suggestion is to have legal representation from the Anchorage Archdiocese along with pastors, deacons, priests and ministers to pick up these "fetus remains," and give them a full Christian burial. They are human beings and deserve to be treated as humans. I also suggest that a fetus or baby be registered at their time of death, as are all human beings.
SEAS parishioners lucky to have Fr. Kaspar
Good people of St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Parish, please allow me to introduce you to your new priest, Fr. Kaspar.
He is a deeply spiritual man. Mass is reverent and prayerful. The Consecration is sacred. The intensity of his prayer and his ability to kneel, unmoving, for extended periods of time on very uncomfortable flooring is amazing and inspiring. His number one priority is to meet the spiritual needs of the parish. At Sacred Heart he offered opportunities for Adoration, Benediction, First Friday and First Saturday masses, Stations of the Cross, many extra hours for Confession (almost nightly during Holy Week), and extra and special Masses. He blessed homes and visited the sick. Many times I’ve encountered him praying alone in the church. "He changed my life; I am a better person because of what he taught me," a parishioner told me.
Something of an introvert, Father rarely speaks of himself, yet people have deeply bonded with him because he is genuine, a whole person. Father is extraordinarily scrupulous about not showing favoritism, and as a result, though he visited few homes, an incredible number of parishioners at Sacred Heart consider him a personal friend. He is caring and wise in his dealings with parishioners, especially those struggling with cultural displacement, grief, and alcoholism. With each passing year, the lines for confession have lengthened.
To those who savor intellectual debate he is a delightful breath of fresh air. He recognizes that "loyal opposition" is not an oxymoron.
He is scrupulous about teaching the faith. He is fabulously well educated.
Yes, he has an accent. As one parishioner put it, "When he first came I had trouble with his accent and got only about 1 word in 10, but even then it was worth it; now I get 7 or 8, and I love him." His homilies are magnificent: cogent, pithy, relatively short multilayered messages that appeal to both simple and sophisticated listeners. Give him time; you will get used to his accent, and it will be worth it.
Fr. Kaspar is a true servant of the people of God. You are lucky; treat him well.