Alaska’s young church unites
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church teemed with energy during the ninth annual Alaska Catholic Youth Conference, where a combination of lively music, sacraments and quiet spiritual reflection wove together.
More than 180 teens from across the state — and one from Wyoming — attended the June 1-4 conference in Anchorage, which included the presence of all four Alaska bishops: Bishop Donald Kettler of Fairbanks, Bishop Edward Burns of Juneau, Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz and retired Anchorage Archbishop Francis Hurley.
Pilgrimages in Alaska: Spiritual destinations abound
Each year, millions of Catholics make a pilgrimage – to the Holy Land, to Rome and sometimes just down the street or up the local mountain.
According to the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, making a pilgrimage is an ancient practice that goes back to Old Testament times.
Discerning a call
Archdiocese poised to double number of seminarians
The Holy Spirit is blessing the Anchorage Archdiocese with young men willing to investigate a possible call to the priesthood, according to vocations director Father Leo Walsh.
Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz, along with Father Walsh and several other priests, hosted three vocation dinners this spring with good turnouts from around South Central Alaska.
All total, 15 men turned out for the dinners, ranging from age 15 to 41. Most were juniors in high school. The others were young professionals from all walks of life — auto mechanics to engineers.
Of those who attended the dinners, two are in the application process for formal entry into the seminarian program, Father Walsh said.
Local priest to engage Islam at national level
At the end of this month, Father Leo Walsh heads to Washington, D.C. to begin a new job that deals with some of the roots of age-old human conflicts.
State agencies push for mandatory sex ed in schools
Several Alaska groups, including government agencies are working to implement mandatory sex education throughout the state.
In April, the Alaska Association of Student Governments received widespread coverage of its new resolution calling for “mandatory, comprehensive” sex education courses for all Alaska high school students.
Throughout the four-day gathering, a wide variety of presenters, many local and some from far away, gave workshops on topics ranging from “There is more to God than Religion” to “Recognizing the Face of Jesus in His Most Distressing Disguise.”
A number of religious communities shared the week with the teens. Anchorage’s Adrian Dominican Sisters Lorraine Reaume and Xiomara Mendez-Hernandez presented talks. Other outside speakers included sisters from the Nashville Dominican community and friars from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.
Mercy Sister Joyce Ross and Medical Mission Sister Joan Barina traveled up from Kenai to present a talk on “The Rewards of Village Missions.”
Father Ben Torreto, on loan to the Archdiocese of Anchorage from the Archdiocese of Cotobato, spoke to the teens about standing in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in the Philippines.
Many lay presenters added zest to the week as well. Bob Bartlett, a national speaker and youth minister, talked to teens about “God’s gift of sexuality.” Anchorage resident Kess Frey explained centering prayer, and a group from the local Project Rachel discussed “how to talk to a friend who has had an abortion.”
For the second year in a row, Lumen Christi graduate Katie Portell, now attending the University of Portland, welcomed the participants before the opening Mass and urged them to follow Christ.
Archbishop Schwietz gave the opening homily in which he alluded to the theme of this year’s conference — “Many Faces, One Alaskan Church.” Archbishop Schwietz told the youth, “We all share the challenge to love one another. We come with so many stories, from such different places, but we come as brothers and sisters. We each need the care of the other.”
After the opening homily, organizer Matthew Beck told the youth that the annual event reflects the reality that the Catholic Church is a unity that bridges the many miles that may separate people.
Beck shared how, growing up, his family took trips all over the county and everywhere they went he experienced the unity of the universal Catholic Church.
“I’ve been to Mass all over,” Beck explained. “As I traveled, I found a home in the Catholic Church — welcoming and friendly and I really felt this presence every time I stepped into a Catholic church amidst the people, amidst the community, celebrating the Eucharist. I always felt like I was home.”
In addition to workshops, liturgy and prayer, one afternoon of the conference was devoted to service projects, with work at sites like Holy Spirit Center, Providence Guest House, Clare House and the Downtown Soup Kitchen.
And the usual, afternoon of social activities was a high point as well. A perfect Alaskan summer day made the hike up Flattop a popular outing, with religious brothers and sisters joining teens all the way to the summit.
The less outdoor types headed for the Dimond Center for movies, skating, bowling or shopping. Others went for ultimate Frisbee, soccer or a visit to H2Oasis Indoor Water Park.