Archbishop Paul Etienne
During this week leading up to the USCCB meeting of bishops in Baltimore, all bishops will this week intensify our prayer. We invite all who are inclined to do so to please join us. Our intentions for this period of focused prayer and sacrifice are listed in the letter below, which I have asked be shared with all our parishioners this weekend. Dear Parishioners: The U.S. bishops are joining together in a commitment of prayer and reparation leading up to the bishops’ general assembly, where we will be making critical decisions in response to the […]
Catholic Social Services – Alaska continues to do good things. Last week they announced they are recipients of a $100,000 grant from Wells Fargo to strengthen their efforts to provide permanent housing to homeless individuals and families. I continue to be so impressed with our Catholic Social Services, their director, Lisa Aquino, their board of directors and staff. This Catholic organization truly lives up to their mission of Serving Anchorage’s most vulnerable by providing the help and support they need most. I wish to also acknowledge the generosity of Wells Fargo! Thanks for ‘sharing the wealth.’ […]
As the month of November approaches, cardinals, archbishops and bishops from around the United States are preparing to travel to Baltimore for our plenary business meeting. This meeting will more than likely be one of the most historic moments in the life of the Church in this country. I ask for your prayers. The renewed headlines of clergy sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults, combined with the new and disturbing reality of cover-up of these crimes by some bishops has angered, disappointed and disillusioned many, if not most of the members of this Church. […]
Yesterday evening, this letter was emailed to all clergy, religious, chancery staff, parish ministers and members of all Archdiocesan boards and committees. This morning, I share the same with you. At the bottom of this post you will find a copy of the official decree establishing this independent commission and defining the scope of their work. A statement to the press will be released at 10:00am this morning. † October 23, 2018 Re: Formation of Independent Commission To the People of the Archdiocese, For the past few months I have prayerfully discerned the best way […]
When I made the decision to return to the seminary in 1988, I was assigned for six months to a parish on the north side of Indianapolis, St. Pius X. That was a great parish experience. They had a wonderful pastor and many great people, and it was a great transition for me as I prepared to begin theological studies in Rome. While there, I met some people who introduced me to a lay ecclesial movement known simply as Focolare – or more formally and lesser known as The Works Of Mary. From that time […]
When I was a college seminarian at the University of St. Thomas (1984-1986), then known as the College of St. Thomas, I was introduced to the writings of the early Church Fathers. Today, we celebrate the feast of one of those early Church Fathers, St. Ignatius of Antioch. I remember quite vividly when we were reading one of his letters, which is in today’s Office of Readings. This saint and his writings, more significantly, his holy longing to give his life for Christ, touched me profoundly. I prayed often since that time of my youth […]
At St. Peter’s in Rome today, Pope Francis created several new saints, among them Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Oscar Romero. In his homily, the Holy Father, with great insight, expounds upon Mark’s Gospel story of the Rich Young Man (10: 17-22). Following Jesus is above all a matter of love. May each of us know this uncompromising love of Jesus. May our response to this love be equally generous. Below is the full text of today’s homily by Pope Francis. The second reading tells us that “the word of God is living and active, […]
After three months of painful revelations of sexual misconduct of priests and bishops, along with allegations that some bishops covered up these criminal behaviors, this weekend we are seeing some positive developments. Before I spell out these new developments, it bears saying once again, that as Church, and as an Archbishop, we apologize again to victims of sexual abuse. My prayer and plea during these past few months is that by our actions we give clear evidence that we are listening compassionately to victims while at the same time taking actions to report their claims […]
As I fly out of Anchorage this evening, the view from the window is spectacular! It is a gorgeous evening here, and as the plane climbs, we leave the Cook Inlet behind, and begin to enjoy the vista of the mountains, the snow caps, quickly revealing glaciers. In short order, we are following the coast of the Pacific Ocean as it gently caresses the shores of Alaska. Since I am destined for Louisville, Kentucky for some time with brother bishops over the next few days, I am transported by this scenery to the shores of […]
Today, Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Houston and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a statement updating the public to recent actions taken by USCCB leaders to address the issues of abuse and accountability of bishops. It is important that the faithful people of God hear that the USCCB is taking action in these days. With that in mind, I share the statement of Cardinal DiNardo here: “In communion with the Holy Father, I join the Executive Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in taking upon ourselves […]