Archbishop Paul Etienne
Spending time with today’s Mass readings, prayers, and scripture from the Liturgy of Hours drives home a strong invitation from this Advent season: conversion of life to the LORD. What stands out most is the call to grow in good deeds to others. Spend some time praying and reflecting on the Opening Prayer for Mass on this First Sunday of Advent: Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to […]
In some ways, our earthquake, ‘end of times’ experience yesterday, and the aftershocks through the night, were too graphic of an ‘ending’ to this liturgical year. Though it felt somewhat ‘like the end’ several times yesterday, here is a reflection to begin the new liturgical year and Advent. May this ‘new year’ hold much grace for you, your family, for our Church and world! Over the course of my childhood, our home was a bee hive of activity during Advent. The center piece during that liturgical season was the Advent Wreath, and I remember vividly […]
Dear friends, thanks for all the prayers and offers of assistance today. At 8:29 this morning, a 7.0 earthquake struck 7 miles north of Anchorage, 25 miles below the earth’s surface. It went on for quite some time. I’m happy to report that for such a strong earthquake, we have yet to hear of any serious personal harm, and early reports reveal limited damage to our church structures. On the feast of St. Andrew, the one church to suffer some structure damage is St. Andrew in Eagle River. Also, a house at St. Patrick’s parish […]
Thirty three years ago, seven sisters from Mexico came to Anchorage to establish a monastery of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Today is the feast day of their foundress, Blessed Sister Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation. On this special day, the community gathered in their chapel to consecrate the first members of their new Association of Adorers. It was a very special celebration! We are blessed to have these sisters present in Anchorage, and especially blessed with their charism of devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I met with their Superior, Mother Evalia last […]
For various reasons, I have been slow to share my own thoughts with you about our USCCB meeting in Baltimore earlier this month. I needed time to sit and pray with all the events and input of the week. I am sure about two things, one; the People of God need to hear from their bishops in the wake of our meeting in Baltimore, and two, there is hope for our future. No Vote: Without a doubt, the ‘show-stopper’ moment came at the beginning of our meeting, when Cardinal DiNardo announced that he had only […]
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 […]