A Final Tribute To Mom
As I prepare to leave southern Indiana behind once again to return to Anchorage, I wish to share some final thoughts about our family’s experience of accompanying Mom through her final days. Please bear with me for one final reflection. At the prayer service the night before Mom’s funeral, each Read more
Rest In Peace, Mom: Carolyn (Kay) Agnes Voges Etienne (1935-2018)
After 60 years of marriage and 82 years of life, mom’s journey of faith reached its goal Sunday evening around 7:30pm. I think she must have scripted the ending. By God’s providence, I was already in Southern Indiana rather than Alaska when we put her in the hospital Friday evening. Read more
End Of Liturgical Year Points To Eternity: Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?
During the month of November, our liturgical celebrations draw our attention to the culmination of our earthly pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Heaven. We do well to ponder regularly the source of our life in God, the reason for our being expressed in God’s will, and our destination as eternity Read more
May, A Month To Honor Moms & Mothers (Mary & The Church)
May is a month we traditionally honor our Blessed Mother and celebrate Mother’s Day. We are given an opportunity this month to honor women. This month of May is also a prime time for us to recognize the Maternity of the Church – after all, how often do we refer Read more
Another Week Of Travels
As I prepare to leave Washington DC on my way back to Anchorage, please allow me to share a little bit of my thoughts from this week. Knowing that I was coming to our USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) headquarters for some committee meetings this week, I took Read more
Young People, Faith & Vocational Discernment
In October, 2018, the Church will hold in Rome the next General Assembly of Bishops, known as a SYNOD. As you may recall, the last two Synods were focused on marriage and family life in the Church, and how we as Church can better accompany them. The resulting document of Read more
The Cause Of Our Thanksgiving
As this national day of giving thanks dawns, I reflect upon the first reading from St. Paul for today’s Mass of Thanksgiving. St. Paul gets to the heart of it when he says: I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you Read more
The Smell Of The … Horses
Most of you are familiar with the often quoted phrase of Pope Francis that the good shepherd needs to have the smell of his sheep. Well, this shepherd had the opportunity to spend Monday with some of his flock, er, ranchers on horseback in the mountain rounding up the last Read more
The Greatest Gift Of All; Our Salvation
Yesterday, a nice group of people gathered at the Miles Land Ranch southwest of Casper for the second annual Rural Life Mass and celebration. I’m very grateful to the three ranch families that sponsored this year’s gathering; Jim & Peggy Price, Randy & Vernita Marton, and Roy & Kathleen Jarrard. They Read more