April 4, 2008 - Issue #7
Local News | Opinion/Editorials | Letters to the Editor
Local News
New faith, new hope
Converts credit the urging of others with conversion
A gentle invitation or simple witness of a faith-filled life was all it took for some of Alaska’s newest Catholics to begin a conversion journey that led to their official entry into the Catholic Church this Easter.
Several new Catholics in the Anchorage Archdiocese credit gentle nudges for their new outlook on life — a perspective now rooted in faith.
For 17-year old Loki Haskins, his newfound faith is a stark shift from the life he led. Haskins comes from a difficult family situation and found himself running with the wrong crowd.
After a run-in with the police, he finally had enough.
"I realized I had nothing in my life that makes me who I am," Haskins explained. "My whole life, I had been hanging out, doing worthless things (like) partying and making friends that weren’t really my friends."
Haskins started searching for something deeper and soon realized that the answer might lie with God. This realization came after a gentle suggestion from one of his supervisors at the restaurant where he worked. The supervisor, a former Lumen Christi High School student, shared her experiences and her Catholic faith with Haskins.
"I talked with her about it for a couple of weeks," Haskins said. "Then one day I was driving down the street to work and realized St. Benedict’s (Church) was there, so I went in."
Haskins spoke with parish pastor Father Steve Moore, who directed him to see Catherine Mitchell. Mitchell teaches the Right of Christian Initiation of Youth classes at the parish and Haskins decided to enroll last fall.
"At first I was skeptical," Mitchell recalled of Haskins coming to her class. "But once I realized he was serious and doing this on his own, I was just in awe."
Mitchell said Haskins soaked everything in, and she did everything she could to make sure he felt welcome and informed about the church.
Haskins work closely with Mitchell’s son James, a student-teacher in the class.
"Sometimes kids can relate better to someone their age," Mitchell said. "He clicked well with both my sons, Joe and James."
Haskins admits he’s not much of a student but said he had a sense of peace about being in the class and studying the faith.
"It’s the first real thing in my life that I’ve ever committed to," he said.
For St. Patrick Church parishioner and new Catholic Craig Niles, the example of his mother-in-law’s faith drew him to the church. His mother-in-law, Mavis, passed away in June but her life left a profound impact on Niles.
"I felt so in awe of the woman, that she believed so deeply in the church," Niles, 60, told the Anchor. "At this stage of my life I realized that things are so tentative, I felt I wanted to explore that faith she had."
Niles got a taste of his own mortality not long after his mother-in-law’s death.
"I had this horrific accident," he recalled. "I was trying to start my boat engine when gasoline poured out and sprayed me and then ignited."
Medics rushed him to Seattle, where he faced treatment for severe burns over 40 percent of his body. Fortunately, he made a speedy recovery, which he credits to prayer.
"After that, I knew I wanted to be a part of and explore the Catholic faith," he said.
Niles grew up in a Christian Scientist household but parted ways with religion as a teenager.
"As soon as I was old enough I sort of rebelled," he said with a laugh. "I rebelled against organized religion and about everything else."
Niles started RCIA classes with his wife Elaine, who was raised Catholic but never confirmed.
"I learned so much from that class," he said. "That’s not too hard to believe ‘cause I didn’t really know anything."
His willingness to study the faith came from a change of attitude.
"I finally got to the stage of my life where I didn’t need everything proved to me, I could accept mysteries," he said.
In death, Niles mother-in-law left a lasting influence on him, which eventually led him to trust in God.
"I always appreciated my mother-in-law, but I never really realized what a significant, saintly person she was," he said, reflecting on her death. "She really permeated every fiber of her being with her faith — she was deeply religious, deeply committed to the Catholic faith."
Holy Cross parishioner Theresa Austin knows, first hand how some journeys into the Catholic Church take longer than others. Austin prayed for years that her husband Keith would join the church.
"For years I offered everything up — daily Mass, I offered everything up for him," Austin said.
Keith never had serious issues with the church but neither did he have a particular urge to become Catholic.
"Theresa wanted our kids to be raised Catholic and since I didn’t have any strong convictions either way, I agreed," Keith told the Anchor.
He grew up going to a Christian church and went with Theresa and his family to Mass on a regular basis. The biggest complication was finding the time to go through the RCIA program, as Keith often spends long periods out at sea with his job.
The turning point came this year, when some family friends joined the RCIA program. Keith joined the class as well and found it to be an "enjoyable experience," he said.
Theresa assisted Keith through the journey, he said.
For her part, Theresa said she is absolutely thrilled.
"It’s one of the most amazing things," she said. "I kept praying and praying."
After 15 years of marriage, Keith joined the Church this past Easter."The best experience of all happened at Mass," Keith said, "when I finally got to receive Communion with my oldest son and wife."
Cathedral forum fights homelessness
More than 250 people joined Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich at Holy Family Cathedral late last month to tackle the troublesome issue of chronic homelessness in Anchorage.
"This is an issue that is close to the heart of Holy Family Cathedral," said Dominican Father Donald Bramble pastor of the cathedral. "We meet the homeless day in and day out, both in the church and in our office."
Anchorage Faith & Action-Congregations Together coordinated the March 24 public meeting with Holy Family Cathedral, an AFACT member congregation with first hand experience of homelessness on Anchorage’s downtown streets. Many homeless attend Mass at the cathedral and participate in free monthly meals there.
"The cathedral seems to be a place where the homeless are comfortable and the homeless are quite visible there," Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz said in an interview with the Anchor. "It’s appropriate that our elected leader would be there to listen to them."
After hearing a presentation by the cathedral’s organizing committee, and nearly a half hour of public comments, Mayor Begich said his administration supports a $10 million state grant for the Alaska Housing Trust which has "stalled out in the legislature." He urged support for the program and said it could help provide permanent housing for the homeless.
The mayor listened as Dominican Father Vincent Kelber described how the cathedral’s organizing committee interviewed 170 parish families, which expressed "both concern for the safety of parishioners plus the well-being of the homeless in their midst."
Although Anchorage combats homelessness in many ways, including the Brother Francis Shelter run by Catholic Social Services, the problem of the chronically homeless has persisted for the past 30 years, said Father Kelber.
Chronic homeless are people who have been homeless for a year, or off and on for several years. Hundreds of these people live in Anchorage with alcoholism and mental health issues often exacerbating their situation.
Archbishop Schwietz praised parishioners at the cathedral for their efforts to reach out to this population and said church partnerships can offer a human face to homeless people who might get lost in the shuffle of large government offices.
"I really salute the cathedral parish people for their willingness to open themselves up to their brothers and sisters who are in need of our concern," he said. "The church sees them as brothers and sisters. Christ died for them just as he died for us."
Battling chronic homelessness, however, has proved difficult over the years.
Research conducted by the cathedral’s organizing committee included discussions with social service providers, state legislators, local law enforcement, and the homeless themselves.
It costs the city $4 million per year to deal with chronic homelessness, said Father Kelber, who cited four major contributors to the problem.First, Anchorage lacks adequate street-outreach on weekends. Secondly, the city lacks adequate detox facilities. A day in detox costs about $285, Father Kebler said, while a day in the emergency room or hospital, where inebriates may otherwise end up, costs $1,750.
Additionally, Anchorage does not have an adequate "housing first" program to provide a home to the homeless before attempting to address issues like unemployment or alcoholism.
"When the homeless are in a safe place, they’re willing to work on other issues," Susan Bomalaski, executive director of Catholic Social Services, stated in the report.The committee also noted that Anchorage lacks a lead person to coordinate all the community efforts, which sometimes leads to inefficiency.
Mayor Begich expressed support for the committee’s concerns and emphasized that the state government has to be a partner in any efforts to solve or fund the solutions. He agreed to meet with the committee again and discuss the issue of a full-time homeless coordinator, hopefully with someone from the state in attendance.AFACT is a faith-based community organizing effort composed of 14 member congregations, including four Catholic ones: St. Anthony Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Holy Family Cathedral, and the Catholic Alaska Native Ministry.
Alaskans eager to see pope
Travelers anticipate pontiff’s first U.S. visit
Letha Schwiesow considered taking a paddlewheel trip down the Columbia River for a big celebration of her entrance into the Catholic faith this spring. Then something much bigger came along.
"The Columbia River turned into the pope," laughed the Anchorage resident, who with her husband Bob Flint will join about 40 others from the Archdiocese of Anchorage in heading for the East Coast this month to see Pope Benedict XVI during his first visit to the United States.
The theme of the April 15-20 visit is "Christ Our Hope," a reflection of the pope’s recent encyclical, "Spe Salvi" (on Christian hope), which was issued in late 2007 to encourage people to personally encounter Jesus Christ.
It won’t be the first time Schwiesow, a former Lutheran and Episcopalian who now belongs to Holy Family Cathedral, has seen the current pope.
"We read everything he writes, and we saw him in Rome soon after he became pope," she said. The couple will see Pope Benedict in Washington, D.C., where he will celebrate a public liturgy at National Stadium.
For those unable to attend Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the U.S. this month, Eternal Word Television Network will air live, commercial-free coverage of the April 15-20 trip. The Catholic cable channel will follow the pontiff’s historical visit to the U.S. with interviews and other documentary-type programming related to the visit. EWTN is available on GCI cable channel 122, and on channel 18 part-time. In the Mat-Su, the network airs on MTVA-TV channel 6. For those with access to satellite, ETWN shows on channel 261 on the DISH network and on channel 370 for DirecTV subscribers. The network also offers live streaming video at www.ewtn.com. |
Other Alaskans, like Mary Frances Barnes and her daughter Katey, will see the Holy Father in person for the first time ever.
The mother-daughter duo also changed plans in order to see the pontiff.
"I have felt this ‘calling’ to see Ground Zero in New York," said Barnes, speaking about the sight of the World Trade Center’s destruction. "And we were planning on doing that during spring break. Then, when I heard about the pope coming, we decided to postpone our trip and combine the two."
Barnes is traveling with friends John and Judy Hagmeier and Judy’s daughter Shana Goff, all members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in South Anchorage. They’ll attend the public Mass the pope will celebrate in Yankee Stadium in New York City.
Both Shana Goff and Katey Barnes are high school seniors. Barnes said the families feel it’s a great senior trip and also a great Catholic adventure to end the school year. Sort of "a last dose of Catholicism" before graduation, she said.
Father Ben Torreto saw Pope John Paul II when he visited the priest’s native Philippines years ago. But he’s never seen Pope Benedict XVI and said he looks forward to hearing what kind of message the pope brings to America. He said he wants to see how the people in the U.S., a more secular society than the Philippines, respond to the pope.
"It will be a delightful moment, a graced moment," said the priest, who is on loan to the Anchorage Archdiocese from the Archdiocese in Cotobato. "The reality is that the pope is the head of the church, and we need to talk about solidarity, about how we are one church, one Body in Christ."
Father Torreto is parochial vicar at St. Michael Church in Palmer. He hopes to attend papal Masses in both New York and Washington, D.C.
The archdiocese was able to obtain roughly 50 tickets to the events. Other than obtaining the tickets, the archdiocese has no role in planning transportation or hotel accommodations and participants are largely on their own.
Benedict’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II, visited the U.S. seven times during his papacy, the last in 1999. But for Alaskans, the most notable papal visit was Pope John Paul II’s stopover in Anchorage on February 27, 1981. Thousands attended a public outdoor Mass held at the Park Strip in Anchorage, and many more lined the streets for a view of the pope, who also met with local church leaders at Holy Family Cathedral.
Charismatic Groups Meet Wednesdays, 7 p.m., at Holy Family Cathedral. For more info call 276-3455. Meets Saturday evenings after 5:30 p.m. Mass at Holy Family Cathedral. For more info call 276-3455. |
Charismatic spirit inspires worship
Worship group reaches Hispanic community
Each Wednesday, praise songs resonate from inside Holy Family Cathedral, where a small but lively group of Catholics lift hands and hearts in a form of praise known as "charismatic worship."
The charismatic movement grew popular in the 1960s as a spiritual-revival movement within both Catholic and Protestant churches.
In Catholic circles, the charismatic movement is facilitated both from Rome and through many national bishop’s conferences.
The Anchorage group formed several years ago, after a charismatic team from Los Angeles held a retreat at the cathedral. There is also a Filipino charismatic group that meets regularly.
"The focus is on the Holy Spirit, and the invocation of the Holy Spirit," group member Mary Benavides explained. She added that the particular focus in the charismatic movement is on the tangible gifts of the Spirit — gifts like speaking in tongues or healing.
Healing and music are gifts that make the group particularly charismatic, Benavides said.
The group rotates through a four-week cycle, focusing on a different theme each week.
"There is a healing week, a teaching or church doctrine week, a reflection-meditation week and an intercession week," said Father Vincent Kelber, who provides pastoral support for the group.
"Sanación, or healing, is when they have a laying on of hands in prayer," Benavides said. She added that the group is very focused on intercessory prayer for one another and the greater community. The prayers for one another are a crucial element in helping to create a tight knit community.
Music is the other bond that unites members of the group, Benavides said.
"Music infuses everything in Hispanic life," she explained. "It’s so much a part of the culture and the spirituality."
Father Kelber agrees.
"The Hispanic culture is a dancing culture," he said. "For Latinos, sometimes Anglo worship is more subtle, whereas they like it more direct."
That doesn’t mean that the tone is irreverent, Father Kelber explained. He used an example of one Latino church in Los Angeles that he said is extremely devout and reverent.
"It’s a place of deep prayer, and it’s very, very noisy," he said.
"Music is so important for us. We are singing to praise our God and show him how much we love him," said Patricia Gould, another member of the community.
"I think that’s the reason the charismatic movement has exploded in Latin America and in the Philippines," Benavides said. Outward expressions of love for God are the way of worship in those cultures, she added.
The tight knit group also sees evangelization as one of their missions, especially reaching other Hispanics in the greater Anchorage area.
"We are trying to help our brothers and sisters who speak Spanish," Gould said. "Alaska is a cold dark place and we want to look to share our faith with the people."
"For Hispanics who move up here, it’s a way for them to connect, even if they aren’t Catholic," Benavides added. She said she’s seen a number of people turn to the Hispanic group for spiritual help and for prayers.
"It’s a form of evangelization in a way," she explained.
Often times people automatically think of Protestant churches when they hear the phrase "charismatic," Benavides said. But in fact, "the Catholic Church is the largest charismatic church in the world," she added.
"The Mass is one of the most charismatic signs you can have," Benavides said. "The smell of the incense, the water of baptism; these are concrete symbols to help us grow closer to God."
"When we sing the "holy, holy, holy," we believe that we are uniting our prayers with the angels in heaven," she added.
"This group is very charismatic and very doctrinal," Father Kelber agreed. "They come to us (the priests at Holy Family) for guidance, they study Scripture in the Catholic context, they do adoration of the Blessed Sacrament."
Father Kelber said the charismatic group is one avenue in the church for people to express their love for God. Charismatic worship, he said, is like other forms of piety and devotion, which help Catholics grow in spirituality."All of us have something that touches us deeply and that is something that we should cherish," he said.
Students stand for faith at APU
Nearly a dozen college students joined the Good Friday Faith walk from both the University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Pacific University.
APU student Diane Stanley said the walk was a good start for the campus’s newly formed Newman Club.
Under the direction of Father Luz Flores, Newman clubs opened on both the UAA and APU campuses in the past year.
"Doing joint activities with UAA and forming a club here on campus — it is important for Catholics to come together," Stanley said after Easter Mass on campus.
Club member Jacob Polzin agreed.
"Its important for me to have a club like this, most of the students (at APU) are away from home. It’s good to have a group of people here on campus to practice the faith within a new place," he said.
To help create that sense of community, the APU Newman club celebrates Mass at least twice a month on campus. They have also participated in community service outreach at the Brother Francis shelter.
"My goal (with the club) is for people to find God however they need to," Polzin said. "The Newman Club offers students one less excuse of why they can’t go to Mass."— Anchor report
Christ in heart of the poor
New book garners wisdom from Sudanese refugees
He’s back! For readers who loved Jesuit Father Gary Smith’s book "Radical Compassion: Finding Christ in the Heart of the Poor" there’s good news.
The priest who had people turning pages prayerfully as they read about his work with the street people of Portland has now written about his six years among Sudanese refugees in the camps of northern Uganda.
"They Come Back Singing: Finding God with the Refugees" (Loyola Press), is a stark and touching look at the plight of the displaced.
Father Smith has an incredible gift for identifying with and learning from the poor. And he translates this empathy into beautiful prose – in this case, much of it in letters he sent home during his years working with Jesuit Refugee Services.
In the book’s beginning, Smith promises that this "is not a sociological study of refugees; it is a portrait of refugee hearts. It is not a book about what I gave to the refugees, but a book about what they gave to me."
How could this book be timelier? The news is full of the genocide in Darfur, in Sudan’s southern region, where the dreaded Janjaweed militia kills indiscriminately on behalf of the government.
Many are fleeing to Chad; many more are sent to refugee camps in Uganda where, often having lost family members to violence or disease, they await resettlement.
Where will they go?
Perhaps they will someday go back home. Perhaps they will be sent to any number of countries, in Africa or in the West, which accept those chased from their homelands.
Meanwhile, they wait with "faith in the midst of exile," as Smith says.
The priest describes his journeys from camp to camp, where catechists keep the faith while waiting for Mass and the sacraments. He tells of seldom meeting a family who hadn’t lost at least two children. He describes his own brutal bout with dysentery, and how this misery led him closer to God.
"I am always struck by the fact that I can embrace faith in hopeless situations," he writes. "But in those moments when my life is unraveling, I am touched by the truth that I am in God’s hands. No matter how dark the circumstances, God is in them, for God is the benevolent and solicitous ground beneath me … I cannot feel sorry for myself when every day I meet people who struggle with disease and death."
Just as his previous book introduced readers to memorable characters from the streets of Portland, the individuals in his newest book jump to life from the page. Whether it’s the local ordinary, Bishop Drandua, who tells Smith "the Spirit is constantly renewing the church; it is a river which cannot be dammed," or whether it’s Jacelin, a child with a cleft lift whom Smith helps to find surgery, real people emerge from this book.
But, as he describes his own misgivings, his tears, his shortcomings, his joy in his work, the person you get to know the best in this book is Gary Smith, who reminds us again that "solidarity with the poor was the way Christ lived."To order this book, visit www.loyolabooks.org/Smith.
Father Clementich moves to Notre Dame
Due to an undiagnosed medical condition, Holy Cross Father LeRoy Clementich left Anchorage March 29 to move to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
Father Clementich, 83, told the Anchor that he has suffered for some months from a "loss of strength" and yet doctors have been unable to pin-point the problem.
After speaking with Holy Cross Provincial staff, it was suggested that he move to the provincial head quarters in Notre Dame for further testing.
Father Clementich said he is unsure if he will be able to return to Alaska, where he has worked as a priest for the past 15 years.
Ordained to the priesthood in 1957, Father Clementich has served all across the United States from as far East as the District of Columbia to the West Coast of Oregon and from Texas to the Archdiocese of Anchorage.
As a pilot priest, he flew a small plane up and down Southcentral Alaska to celebrate Mass and other sacraments for rural Catholic communities that did not have a resident priest. He also served communities in Valdez and along the Aleutian Chain.
In addition to traveling the circuit, Father Clementich has written an award-winning Scripture column for the Catholic Anchor for many years. This column will continue in the Anchor through at least May 2.
About 16 years ago, Father Clementich began visiting Alaska for a few weeks each summer to fish and enjoy the outdoors.
At that time, Anchorage Archbishop Francis Hurley (now retired) asked him to move to Alaska full time to help serve the mission archdiocese.
In 1993 Father Clementich received permission from his order to live and work in Alaska full time.
While at Notre Dame, Father Clementich will stay at the Holy Cross House Medical Facility, where staff will attempt to isolate and diagnose his medical condition.—Anchor report
In celebration of Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz’s 40th year since being ordained to the priesthood, Annette Leuenberger, a parishioner at St. Michael Church in Palmer, painted a portrait of Archbishop Schwietz and the late pontiff, Pope John Paul II.
"I saw a photo of the archbishop with John Paul the II and I knew then that I wanted to do a portrait," Leuenberger told the Anchor. "I always wanted to meet Pope John Paul II but I never got a chance. Both he and Archbishop Schwietz mean a lot to me."
The portrait is more than three feet tall and consists of charcoal pastels and acrylic, with inlaid gold in various places. The painting hangs in the lobby at the Archdiocese’s Pastoral Center in Anchorage.
Religious Profile: Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series that highlights religious orders in the Archdiocese of Anchorage.
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Animated by the Gospel and founder Catherine McAuley’s passion for the poor, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas are impelled to commit their lives and resources to act in solidarity with the poor of the world, especially women and children. The order is also committed to seeking fullness of life and equality in church and society.
Currently four sisters serve in Alaska
• Sister Carol Ann Aldrich serves as parish director of St John the Baptist Parish in Homer.
• Sister Joyce Ross serves as parish director of Our Lady of Angels in Kenai.
• Sister Kathleen O’Hara serves as spiritual caregiver at Providence Horizon House in Anchorage.
• Sister Jean Pyper serves as emergency outreach caseworker at Catholic Social Services in Anchorage.
The Sisters of Mercy came to Alaska in 1968 at the invitation of then Archbishop Joseph Ryan.
The sisters hope to continue to serve the Archdiocese in Anchorage as long as they can.
For more information about the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, visit www.sistersofmercy.org or call (301) 587-0423 x 2239.
News & Notes
Shelter gains funds
A new grant from Providence and a local mental health trust fund is expected to assist the medical clinic at the Brother Francis Shelter. The Caring Clinic, an on-site medical clinic at the shelter has lacked medication and medical supplies since July 2007, when the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Clinic had a significant grant reduction and was unable to provide the Caring Clinic with medications. The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and Providence Health & Services Alaska recently pledged a combined $18,000 to fund the clinic for one year, which is expected to serve nearly 500 clients.
"Most patients do not have the money to purchase prescriptions," said Sister Jackie Stoll, a registered nurse who works at the Caring Clinic. "It is very important that we have the necessary prescriptions and supplies available on-site at Brother Francis Shelter," she said. Catholic Social Services’ Brother Francis Shelter provides temporary, emergency shelter.
Partial Birth Abortion Bill moves
The State House of Representatives passed a new partial birth abortion bill late last month. According to a legislative release, the measure passed the house by a vote of 21 to 16. Under HB 301, Alaska would adopt definition language passed by the U.S. Congress and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
New Baby Boutique
Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz blessed the new Catholic Social Services’ Pregnancy Support Baby Boutique on March 25. Hours of operation for the Baby Boutique (formerly Birthright) are Tuesday and Thursdays from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Donations of diapers, and baby and maternity clothes in good condition are welcomed and can be dropped of at 3710 East 20th Avenue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find out more about the Pregnancy’s Support program at Catholic Social Services log on to cssalaska.org or call 222-7315.
Terri Schivo’s brother to speak
Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri Schivo, is scheduled to speak at three Theology on Tap gatherings in Alaska this month. The talks will focus on human dignity and the sanctity of human life at all stages. Schindler is set to speak at the Hacienda Mexican Restaurant in Wasilla on April 16. On April 17, he speaks at the Snow Goose Restaurant in Anchorage and on April 18, he will speak at the Paradiso's Restaurant in Kenai. All talks begin at 7 p.m. For more information call 360-2323 (Anchorage), 745-3498 (Mat-Su).
Consecration to Mary
The Legion of Mary will hold their annual consecration to Mary on Saturday April 12 at Holy Family Cathedral. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will follow the consecration, with a concluding reception afterwards. For more information, call 245-0074.
Anointing the sick
Holy Family Cathedral will celebrate a Mass of Anointing for the elderly and those with chronic or long-term illness on Saturday, April 5, at 12:10 p.m. A light lunch will be served immediately following Mass in the Parish Hall.
Our Lady of the Valley Fundraiser
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School in Wasilla will hold a formal dinner auction on April 12, 6 p.m., at the Lake Lucille Inn in Wasilla. The auction benefits the K-12 school in the Valley. For more information call 376-0883.
Donations needed
Catholic Social Services’ Pregnancy Support Services needs clear plastic bins (11-gallon size) with lids to organize baby clothes. Toiletries for birth moms are also needed. Contact Debbie Sell at 222-7315 or drop off items at CSS at 3710 East 20th Avenue between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The role of laity
Father Tom Brundage, Moderator of the Curia and the Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Anchorage, will present a talk about the role of the laity in the mission of the church. The talk, entitled, "The Rights and Responsibilities of lay people in the Church according to Canon Law," will be held April 9, 7 p.m., at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Anchorage.
St. Francis Donations needed
St Francis House needs empty egg cartons, canned fruit, beans, powdered or non-refrigerated milk, and non-sweetened cereals, peanut butter, canned meat, and other protein items continue to be the most urgent needs. Donations can be dropped off at 3710 East 20th Avenue.
Lumen Christi Gala
Lumen Christi High School is accepting donations and reservations for its 2008 Spring Gala. The event is set for 6 p.m., April 4, at the Egan Center, and includes dinner plus live and silent auctions. For more information, call 333-3684.
Columns
Archbishop comments on importance of Eucharist, marriage prep, hope
Editor’s note: Archbishop Roger Schwietz traveled to Washington D.C. (earlier this month) for several national meetings, one of which was the National Advisory Council. This 56-member body is a group of lay Catholics, priests and religious from around the country who discuss and weigh in on tentative agenda items to be placed before the U.S. bishops at their annual national gatherings.
What is one concrete issue you discussed at the National Advisory Council, which you plan to bring to your fellow bishops?
"This meeting came up with comments for the June meeting for the bishops. One issue that came up had to do with marriage preparation. It seems that there is not a common approach to marriage preparation and there are places where it is uneven. One area I am concerned about is that I think there should be a Natural Family Planning component to each of the marriage preparation presentations. That is not always there and when it is, it is not always done well. I think it is an important thing to stress because people still don’t understand it. That whole issue needs to be dealt with. It is going to take some time. We have not done well with this issue and we have to look at how we can better help our Catholic people in this area."
Editor’s note: Archbishop Schwietz is set to join fellow U.S. Bishops to meet with Pope Benedict XVI on April 16 in Washington D.C. In preparation for the meeting Archbishop Schwietz was asked to submit two questions, which the pope may address during his visit. The Anchor asked Archbishop Schwietz to explain what he hopes the pope will address during his visit.
One of the questions you submitted to the pope deals with the issue of hope, especially for young people. What do you think the U.S. church needs to hear at this time?
"In looking at the atmosphere of the church in this country, the recent encyclical that the pope wrote on hope ("Spe Salve") is really an important one to be absorbed in our society, as well as in Europe. I’m hoping he will talk about the issue of hope some more. We need to think about how we can be messengers of hope, especially we bishops in the U.S. This is in light of the fact that so many people have said the bishops have lost their moral authority because of the abuse of minors by clergy. So how do we regain that in some way? This is an opportunity for the pope to address that and how we can move beyond the whole scandal and the harm it has done to victims, to the church and to relationships within the church."
One of your questions deals with appreciation of the Eucharist and its centrality to both marriage and the priesthood. How do you see these areas connected?
"The institution of marriage is the cornerstone of society and the priesthood is a central cornerstone of the church in terms of the sacramental life. These are supported by the Eucharist and should be focused on the Eucharist, which is the core of our faith and also the source of our strength. Something that has hurt the church since the Second Vatican Council was a loss of that sense of appreciation of the Eucharist. I see a change taking place, though, where there is a regaining of that appreciation. I hope the pope might take this opportunity to talk about things we have seen as bishops, such as where you have Eucharistic adoration, you have an increase in vocations. I think it would be a wonderful thing to include in marriage preparation to get engaged couples to go to Eucharistic adoration together to support their relationships. I think the Eucharist can be a real seal on these vocations and a source of strength for these vocations."
The writer is the Archbishop of Anchorage.
My personal heroes
I often wonder how, in heaven’s name, I, indeed most of us, could ever have gotten to where we are in our lives without the aid of someone whom we might call parent, wife, husband, teacher, mentor, friend, counselor, tutor, even hard-nosed critic?
It’s a great mystery! Well, actually, it’s not such a great mystery: From birth to death we are literally in the hands of someone who genuinely cares about us.
How then should we refer to such folks? I call them heroes, whether they seemed so at the moment or not.
Let me share with you a short list of my personal heroes: Ed and Cecelia, my parents, for obvious reasons. Father Ott who baptized me, again for obvious reasons. Pope John XXIII, a man with big ears and a big heart who undoubtedly kept me from giving up on the church. Cardinal Joseph Bernadin, who, more by his death than by his life, taught me how to die … someday. Frank O’Malley, beloved Notre Dame professor, who taught me to appreciate good Catholic writers and writing. Bishop Tom Gumbleton, a man rare among his episcopal compatriots, who speaks on behalf of our brothers and sisters who are gay or lesbian. Dorothy Day, whose fierce concern for justice and equality prompted her even to stand in the face of Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York. Sister Mary Luke Tobin, the sole U.S. woman to participate in the deliberations of the Second Vatican Council. She once reminded a Roman cardinal that women were at least half of the world’s Catholic population! And, finally, Sister Theresa Kane, who, when she was invited to greet the visiting Pope John Paul II on behalf of U.S. women religious suggested that it might be a nice idea if women had a broader role in the church’s ministry. A brave reminder for those times.
I grant you, these individuals may not suit everyone’s definition of hero, but each in his or her own way has had an immense impact on my life. They have kept me from getting lost when there was a strong possibility of my doing so.
These thoughts about heroes came to mind after reading the Gospel for this forthcoming Sunday that actually speaks of shepherds. We refer to the day as Good Shepherd Sunday. To many people, shepherds, whether real or allegorical, are individuals who keep us from getting lost. Anyone who has ever watched English sheep dogs on The History Channel, and noticed how they corral sheep without frightening them will immediately catch the implication of the need for someone to keep the "flock" from wandering off into danger.
What we learn from the shepherd metaphor, obviously, therefore, is that any gathering of human individuals stands the risk becoming chaotic. Hence the need for someone of strong but gentle character, not to push, shove or command the flock, but to lead by word, trust and example. Such persons, and they are often rare, will immediately encounter the confidence and trust of the community. Despite our human tendency toward individualism and independence, we are not dumb. We know instinctively that to live in peace in any community we need to be willing to give in to one another and trust the instincts of that one person among us who seems to know our needs and is willing to share his or her gifts to keep us together.
Obviously, then, the model of shepherd fits our age as adequately as it did Jesus’ day. Perhaps it is even a designation we could all strive for. Wouldn’t it be nice occasionally to hear someone say to us: "Hey, you know, you’ve always been my hero." "Amen" to that I say.
The writer recently moved to Notre Dame in Indiana after serving the Anchorage Archdiocese as pastor and coordinator of parishes without resident priests.
Bring faith into the ‘chaotic, rule-free open’
My good friend Scott McMurren, sometimes known as "Alaska’s Travel Guru," has a weekly online travel newsletter that is emailed to 15,000 of his "closest friends" from here to Australia.
I’ve been a subscriber since its inception, and although I usually can’t take advantage of the good deals on airfares, cruises, hotels and meals, it’s fun to read Scott’s witty commentary on travels both exotic and local.
So it was with interest that I scrolled to the end of the newsletter on Holy Saturday and saw his comments about Easter in Alaska – the usual stuff about egg hunts in the snow and chocolate bunnies.
But then he added a personal note about singing at the Easter Vigil at the Mass at our parish. "Much to the horror of our kids, I still sing in the choir. . ." I chuckled, because my own children react not with horror, but with a smile, when Scott gets up to sing. He’s a big guy, but he sings with the enthusiasm of a five-year-old at the Christmas play, and if occasionally he hits a wrong note, it never deters him from belting out the "Alleluias" as if he really, really means them.
Which I know he does, because he went on to inform his many readers: "This is an especially moving service with lots of music. Honestly, I rarely get out of there without crying. My wife didn’t bargain on marrying such a "goopie" husband 25 years ago."
Well, Scott, what I think is that a lot of people talk about "the new evangelization," but you, my friend, are a living example of it. In a newsletter otherwise dedicated solely to the business of travel, you added a small window into your own faith life in a brief, beautiful way.
Wouldn’t it be great if each of us resolved to bring our faith to the marketplace and the office? Not in inappropriate, in-your-face ways, of course, but in the living presence we exude as people whose faith is 24/7, not just a Sunday morning deal.
Another online spot, www.whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com brought that same message home this Easter week.
"Whispers in the Loggia" is the place to get church gossip, not to mention the latest papal address. It’s where everybody in town found out Bishop Mike Warfel of Juneau was being moved to Great Falls the day before it was publicly announced. Whispers is respectful, falling into no dreaded label territory ("conservative, liberal") but just a good read to find out what’s going on.
Rocco Palmo, the blogster, wrote these words about Holy Week: "Just as the whole point of this life is to become a ‘living gospel,’ so the most important and needed storytellers for what these days are and why they’re so important aren’t the folks in the studios, the pulpits or headquarters of any sort, but you and me (i.e. all of us)."
Palmo goes on to add that very little of Holy Week took place "in the rarefied milieu of the Temple" but rather in "the chaotic, rule-free open." It wasn’t, he adds, "the consecrated inside but the ‘profane’ outside that saw this week become holy. . ."
And isn’t that where we’re called to be? We go to the Eucharist to fortify ourselves for the "chaotic, rule-free open." We go to accept the Body of Christ so that we can go out to that world, an often "profane" world, and be the Body of Christ to all those who just haven’t gotten the message yet.
We’re all called to be storytellers. Scott demonstrated that nicely last week.
The writer is a stewardship and hospitality coordinator at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Anchorage.
God speaks, but are we listening?
A colleague once said that my personality is like a hyperactive, energetic bull in a china shop.
Being an Alaskan, I might prefer the analogy of a wild wolverine indoors, but I would be lying if I said that the term was unfair.
Father Tom Lilly even ribs me about it sometimes.
"In journalism, there is always a deadline and it seems like that deadline is always yesterday," he often jokes when we talk.
Sure, I pay a lot of lip service to tight journalism deadlines, especially when I worked in TV news. But the reality is I thrive off the fast pace.
I loved every minute of breaking news in TV, talking on multiple phones at once.
Even now I love multi-tasking, texting, chatting on the phone, writing an article or lesson plans while listening to the iPod.
I often forget to slow down (something I’m told often in spiritual direction).
I had a chance to slow down recently on a trip home to visit my parents in Indianapolis.
My parents, little brother and I went to Mass and Stations of the Cross on Friday at Holy Rosary Church, one of the oldest churches in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, where my parents are parishioners and my brother is sacristan.
On that day, we arrived an hour before Mass so my brother could prepare. My mother knew that I probably wouldn’t want to go so early.
"Take a walk around downtown," she said.
I almost did, but then paused.
I looked around the church and was struck by the beauty. The sun radiated through the giant stained glass windows, sending beautiful flashes and speckles of colored light all over. I felt like I was in a stained glass greenhouse. The images of St. Bernard and St. Theresa of Avila struck me, as did the artwork, architecture and the old bells.
Alaska, as a young mission diocese lacks those old traditional churches found in the Lower 48.
The timeless beauty and artwork drew me out of the hustle and bustle of the "now" and into God’s time, which is completely outside our time. In that extra hour before Mass I had the chance to just be present before God — to relax and enjoy one another’s company. In a rare moment, I actually listened and stayed with my God.
I have to admit, while it was peaceful, it was also a bit awkward. But then the Gospel story of Martha and Mary came to me, in which Jesus told Martha not to get too caught up in activities, but instead chose the better part of simply being with God.
So I’m making it a point to listen now.
At least I’m trying, in between the text messages, iPods, writing, lesson planning, teaching and the general chaos of everyday living.
The writer is the assistant editor of the Anchor and teaches at Lumen Christi.
Editorials
Homeless…need help
They hold faded cardboard signs, as commuters pass by. It’s most awkward when the traffic light turns red and these vagabond men and women look us straight in the face.
Yes, they are worn down; yes they are disheveled and often suffering from mental illness and physical addiction. More profound than all their sufferings, however, is the reality of the human person.
Hundreds of chronically homeless men and women walk the streets of Anchorage. They are such fixtures in this town that, if it weren’t for that haunting feeling at the stoplight, it may be tempting to see them as an unfortunate part of the backdrop.
That feeling, however, is deep calling to deep.
"Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity." (CCC 1934)
These words from the Catechism of the Catholic Church shed light on a recent public meeting at Holy Family Cathedral.
On March 24, Anchorage Catholics joined people from various religious and social backgrounds to tackle the problem of chronic homelessness. The public meeting was a unique opportunity to affirm, through concrete action, that all human life contains a fundamental dignity. Mayor Mark Begich attended the meeting to see if there were ways the city could work with religious groups to address the problem.
As Catholics we believe the dignity of human life runs from conception until death and that all human rights flow from this. Our dignity is not conditioned on social, economic or material state but only our status as human beings.
The church affirms that all human beings have a right to shelter and basic health care. Thankfully, the Catholic Church in Anchorage has a long history of reaching out to the homeless. The Brother Francis Shelter is the most obvious and shining example.
It is, therefore, fitting that the church would seek a partnership with the state to respond to chronic homelessness. The church’s voice is needed because the problem is much deeper than any state program can address. The homeless are not merely statistics or clients in a welfare office. They are men and women whose lives are tangled in contradiction. They have families and children and yet they live on the streets.
Chronic homelessness is not a neat problem with a simple solution. Broken homes, childhood wounds, alcohol, drugs and myriad physical and spiritual ills lead people to live without shelter and apart from loved ones.
The meeting at Holy Family Cathedral was more of a beginning than an end. Catholics may disagree about the practical programs that could best assist the homeless. We cannot, however, simply ignore these brothers and sisters.
Through it all, we must keep in mind that any church partnership with the state cannot fail to affirm that the highest dignity for any person is to live as a son or daughter of God. This is the core mission of any church work.
The homeless need a home but they also require the dignity of spiritual hope. The church is in a unique position to both advocate for earthly shelter, while at the same time inviting these men and women to the high and dignified hope of eternal life with Christ.— Joel Davidson
An uncommon priest
For the past year and a half, I’ve worked just down the hall from a spry and charming man. His insatiable love of learning is matched by an uncommon gift for philosophical and theological dialogue — even with those like myself who held differing views.
For the past 15 years, Father LeRoy Clementich (Father Clem) was a fixture in the Anchorage Archdiocese Pastoral Center at 225 Cordova Street.
Last week, the 83-year-old Holy Cross priest called me into his office for a brief word. He was packing up his belongings and heading south to Notre Dame because of a mysterious illness, which has left him feeling weak for months.
His provincial superior wanted him to come to Indiana to receive treatment and further testing at their medical center.
This turn of events was not part of Father Clem’s plan — not for the tireless bush-pilot priest who wrote award-winning columns for the Catholic Anchor, while perfecting artistic and literary homilies for some of the most rural Catholic communities in the U.S.
Father Clem loves Alaska and had no plans to leave.
In the past year and a half working at the Anchor, I came to respect and love this man. We did not always see eye to eye but conversations in his office always ended with a handshake or a clasp on the shoulder. Faith is an eternally unfolding journey and Father Clem is that rare pilgrim who plunges headlong into the mystery.
He is also a man who loves people as evidenced by the many letters he writes and his willingness to halt everything to offer a kind word to those who stopped by his office.
Last week, Father Clem showed exceptional dignity and grace as he packed his belongings to embark on another chapter of an already long and adventuresome life.
I know for certain that his departure from Alaska, whether brief or extended, carries with it many prayers and much admiration.
It was a pleasure to work across the hall from this uncommon priest.
Letters to the Editor
Reader praises sisters at Magadan Mission
After reading the letters to the editor, I chose to write and share a few thoughts. The first letter in the March 8th edition ("Move beyond Communion in the hand") concerned the practice of receiving Communion. This led to questions of whether I am more sinful using my tongue or using my hand. That reflection was of short duration.
The second letter ("Magadan Mission is heroic") was wonderful to read. In addition to the heroic service of both Father David Means and Father Michael Shields, God has blessed the Magadan Mission for three years with three women religious, Daughters of Charity, who work among the people. Many of you know Sister Jean Marie Williams, DC, a former member of the holy Family Cathedral Parish. Sister added much to the parish life here as she shared her music ability, her love of Christ and her quiet graciousness with the parishioners. I can only imagine that she shares these gifts with the folks in Magadan. Perhaps when Father Shields makes his next round of visits, the people of the Archdiocese of Anchorage will be treated to pictures of all the sisters and the wonderful work that they do in their humble competent fashion.
Outreach Ministry, Holy Family Cathedral
Homily challenging but appropriate
In response to a homily given by Deacon Ken Donohue on the intrinsic evil of contraception and the life-giving option of Natural Family Planning, parishioner Bill Scannell recently wrote that he considered it "inappropriate to give a PG-13 lesson on sex and procreation and the evils of contraception in front of a congregation packed full of children…" As one would expect on a topic as personal as human sexuality, I received a wide range of feedback. The majority of it was quite positive. One parent with young children present at the same homily commented, "It was the best homily I’ve heard on the subject in 25 years."
Our sexuality is a gift from God and should be valued and discussed as such. Church is an appropriate place to hear of that gift and how we are charged by God to use this gift in a responsible manner. I heard Deacon Ken’s homily three times, and it was not a PG-13 homily on sex. He understands the importance of nuance, having helped to raise three children. He was discreet enough that young children present would have had little-to-no idea of what he was talking about. For kids old enough to be interested, follow-up questions to parents are a good thing and could be helpful in sparking a discussion that, although uncomfortable and challenging to adults (especially if they are themselves contracepting), could be helpful to teens heavily influenced by our hedonistic culture.
The mechanics (biology) of sex is best left up to parents to teach, as Mr. Scannell correctly notes; however, as Pope John Paul II so beautifully expounded in his writings on the "Theology of the Body," talk about human sexuality belongs in our conversations about God, as he made us male and female. Madison Avenue certainly is not going to promote this message. We as church absolutely must, and we must begin at the earliest ages, before the culture of death permeates our children. I thought Deacon Ken sensitively addressed a culturally controversial topic with care, compassion and a loving heart.
Anchorage
Homily applauded
I want to applaud Deacon Ken Donahue for his homily about the Church’s teachings on NFP and contraception ("Working with Nature," March 8). I also wanted to respond to Bill Scannell’s letter, "Homily Correct but for Another Crowd" (March 22). It was refreshing to hear the topic of NFP preached from the pulpit. It very much needed to be addressed. While I echo Scannell’s sentiment that sex education is a parent’s prerogative, I felt the homily was entirely appropriate.
I am a mother of three small children, who were with me that Sunday. Not once was I offended by the homily, nor did I feel that it scandalized my children. Deacon Donahue’s homily was both eloquent and offered with prayerful consideration. He addressed not only procreation and contraception, but also the beauty of God’s design for our bodies. He told us that we are made in the image of God and that we should protect this image. That should not only be taught to our children, but shouted from the rooftops. If it’s not heard at Mass, then where?
Deacon Donahue’s topic was no less appropriate than other church teachings on life, whether pertaining to NFP, abortion or just war. The church’s teachings about God’s design for us are beautiful and should never be considered "taboo."
Anchorage
Contraception homily appropriate
I want to thank Deacon Ken Donahue for his homily on Natural Family Planning. It was the first time I ever heard the topic preached at Mass and I must say it is all too rare. I disagree with Bill Scannell that the topic of contraception is inappropriate for a homily, when children are present. In fact, I had my two children in tow that day as did many of my friends who, coincidentally, liked the homily. I do, however, agree that there are appropriate ways to explain these things in a non-explicit way. It is not impossible to explain adult subjects to young audiences. After all, there is a crucified man hanging on the wall.
I grew up thinking that contraception was acceptable. I thought the church’s teaching against contraception was just some old doctrine that the church had not got around to scrapping. My parents didn’t educate me about why it was wrong, probably because they themselves did not know. It was not until I began to study the writings of Pope John Paul II that I began to see how detrimental contraception is.
Slowly and surely, with the guidance and wisdom of the church, I have come to know why it is wrong and how it lies at the root of the breakdown of marriage and family life. If every married Catholic followed the church’s teaching on contraception, then I would say, yes, Bill Scannell is correct in his conclusions. But seeing that so many do not, I can only conclude that the subject should be preached more often.
Anchorage