Our readings for this Third Sunday of Advent make it clear; The LORD is the source of our joy – not the things of this world. Isaiah recognized this with one of his famous lines: “The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me.” St. Paul gives good advice in Read more…
As I celebrated Mass today for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and prayed the words of consecration during this Year of the Eucharist, I was moved to understand that the grace which provided for Mary’s Immaculate Conception is the same grace we receive through each Eucharist; the unique grace Read more…
Jesus speaks with Nicodemus in today’s Gospel (John 3:1-8), about the necessity to be “born from above” in order to see the Kingdom of God. We are curious as was Nicodemus as to how we can experience such a ‘rebirth.’ The answer lies in Jesus Christ, not only his teaching, Read more…
When I was introduced as the new Coadjutor Archbishop of Seattle, one of the Auxiliary Bishops gave me a book to read titled The Boys In The Boat, by Daniel James Brown. The book is about the young men who made up the rowing team for the University of Washington Read more…
On this Nativity of John The Baptist, we look to a critical moment in the history of salvation. On this solemnity, our minds are drawn as much to the holy couples of Elizabeth and Zechariah & Joseph and Mary as they are to John the Baptist. This is a seminal Read more…
In so many ways, it is clear God’s grace is active and alive in the Church today, and it has been on full display this week in the Archdiocese of Anchorage! Our week began with the annual Alaska Catholic Youth Conference. For four days, approximately 250 youth, ministers and chaperones Read more…
As we celebrate the Ascension, this year we also celebrate Mother’s Day, and without too much of a stretch, we realize they are easily joined. The Ascension is the celebration of the return of Jesus after the Resurrection to the Father in heaven. St. Augustine said it well when he Read more…
Today, we have accompanied Christ in his passion and death. We watched as he was unjustly condemned, rejected and beaten, suffered and was crucified. He was ridiculed and mocked for our sins and for our salvation. Has his suffering captivated us? After he died, his side was pierced by a Read more…
Installation Homily; Co-Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe November 9, 2016; Archdiocese of Anchorage Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, DD, STL Good afternoon! Thank you for coming here to pray with us today! I wish to thank today Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States and representative of Our Read more…
Dear Friends, welcome to my new blog! I figured after six and one half years, it was time for an upgrade. I also learned that around 80% of people who access the internet today do so with a hand-held device, and my previous blog was no longer user friendly. How Read more…