October 5, 2007 - Issue #20
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Local News
Discipleship Days unites Catholics
More than 300 Catholics gathered last month for the 2007 Discipleship Days conference in Anchorage.
Attendees, volunteers and dozens of speakers spent three days worshiping, attending presentations and making connections with fellow Catholics from across the state.
Conference goers included at least one representative from every church or mission in the Anchorage Archdiocese, as well as Catholics from the dioceses of Juneau and Fairbanks.
A combination of nationally known and local presenters rounded out a list of more than 30 different speakers who addressed everything from how to effectively evangelize to ways Catholics can bolster their spiritual walk.
While many of the talks focused on techniques and tips for effective evangelization, other speakers addressed the need for social justice in local communities, effective ways to engage youth and young adults, safe environment training, scripture study and other topics.
Knowing Christ takes faith, forgiveness and trust
"If you have a gorilla costume, it doesn’t make you a gorilla! You can’t be a disciple of Christ unless you KNOW Christ," Father Michael Shields said Sept. 29 at the beginning of his keynote talk.
Speaking during Discipleship Days at Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage, Father Shields said the first and most important component of discipleship is knowing Christ and the best way to achieve this is to approach it like a family relationship.
Father Shields told a story about a time he asked his own father whether or not he was adopted. After joking with his son that he was found along the Russian River with the silvers, Father Mike’s biological father took a serious tone with his son.
"Lookit son. My blood is running through your veins," he recalled. "I married your mother and her blood is running through your veins as well."
The same thing is true with our relationship with God, Father Shields said.
"God the Father’s blood is running through our veins. He made you. His mother (Mary) is our mother too," he said.
Focusing on that familial relationship helps us grow in our knowledge and relationship with Christ.
The second component in becoming disciples is forgiveness, Father Shields added.
"God’s not sitting in heaven with a scorecard keeping track," he said. "He’s out there as a father waiting to forgive."
The third part to becoming a follower of Christ is living the faith. To illustrate this point, Father Shields brought Juneau Bishop Michael Warfel and Anchorage Archdiocese’s director of stewardship Jim Caldarola to the front for a demonstration.
"Okay Jim, now I need you to fall back into my arms and trust that Bishop Warfel and I will catch you," Father Shields said.
Caldarola, although wary, did as he was asked and was promptly caught by Father Mike and Bishop Warfel.
"This is how our faith should be. It’s putting our whole life —sin, guilt, all of it to Christ," Father Shields said.
If we have the faith and are generous with ourselves by giving totally to Christ, the rewards and blessings are more than we could ever imagine, he concluded."Joy, life, forgiveness and love happens to those who trust," Father Shields said.
Pope pointed way to a genuine sexual revolution
Cultural time bomb yet to go off, priest says
What’s the difference between Playboy Mansion and the Sistine Chapel?
"Intention," Father Michael Shields answered his own question.
Speaking last month during Discipleship Days at Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage, Father Shields tackled an uncomfortable issue, yet one he believes is the root cause of much human suffering.
In a room packed with priests, religious women, parish administrators and lay men and women, Father Shields said the Sistine Chapel was created to showcase the glory of God as seen through his very highest creation – the human being.
"The intention of Playboy is to incite lust in the hearts of men – and it does a pretty good job," he added.
Roughly 80 people attended the Sept. 28 talk to hear Father Shields unpack a tiny portion of Pope John Paul II’s massive work on human sexuality, "Theology of the Body."
The 603-page book encompasses the late pontiff’s revolutionary view that the human body contains within it a message about human nature and clues to what brings ultimate happiness.
Father Shields reminded the crowd that Pope John Paul ordered the loincloths removed from the Sistine Chapel during its restoration.
"Why did he tell them to do that? Because purity is the glory of God as seen in the human body," he said.
"John Paul says to read your body to find out who you are," he added.
Unfortunately, human sexuality has been so perverted so that it has become difficult to decipher the message of the human body. Pornography and sexual promiscuity have skewed God’s message, Father Shields said.
He recalled some of his experiences in Russia, where for the past 13 years he has worked in a parish in Magadan.
"Russia is so sexually saturated – it is destroying itself through pornography," Father Shields said. "The United States is the same."
But Pope John Paul points the way back to sexual wholeness, he added, through a genuine sexual revolution – not the "bill of goods" that passed as a sexual revolution in the 1960s, he said.
Father Shields dismissed the idea that society should return to the sexual repression prevalent before the 1960s.
"We can’t repress sexual desire to over come lust," he said. "It doesn’t make sense, repressed sexual desires will just come out in other ways."
Like "eating cake – all the time," he said.
The other extreme to avoid, he called "animal sexuality" – having sex whenever and with whomever you want.
"That is slavery, not liberation," Father Shield told the rapt crowd.
Pope John Paul’s third option is "sexual redemption," he said.
Christ took sexual shame, lust and wounds upon himself when he was crucified on the cross. This makes healing possible, Father Shields explained.
"It’s a struggle, our culture’s crazy but it is possible," he said.
Untwisting ourselves is the first step toward a proper reading of our bodies, he explained. That means understanding where we come from, what happened when Adam and Eve fell into sin, and where we are going after the work of Jesus Christ, he said.
"Adam and Eve were naked without shame – they looked on each other with love," he said. After the fall, they cover themselves, hide in fear and look on each other in shame, he added.
"Jesus comes to reclaim what happened."
Towards the end of the talk, Father Shields returned to images of the Sistine Chapel. These images, he said, tell the true story of the human body.
"Have you been to Rome?" he asked. "There are more nudes there than Playboy Mansion."
That’s because the human body is God’s handiwork, he said."We have to reclaim the blessedness of our sexuality."
Catholic vitality is a ‘corporate venture’
Spirituality: living with the communion of saints
Most people claim to have some form of spirituality but in America that varies from monasteries to 12-step programs, and from yoga or astrology to just walking into the woods, Juneau Bishop Michael Warfel said during a Sept. 28 keynote address on what it means to be a vital Catholic.
"That might be okay, but spirituality needs to go beyond looking for what feels good," he said during a Discipleship Days talk at Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage. "Catholic spirituality affirms that all people’s goal — without exception — is to live in heaven with the communion of saints," Bishop Warfel said.
The communion of saints signifies the importance of reaching that goal through the greater Christian community. The church and the body of Christ need to reach that goal of heaven through an ongoing process of formation, both personally and on a community level, he said.
Communication with God is the most essential element to being a vital Catholic.
"Prayer is non-negotiable, as with any relationship, it must be nurtured…otherwise it dies," Bishop Warfel said.
It’s a spousal type of prayer, because it’s the same type of communication spouses would have in a healthy relationship, he added. It’s also communal since a Christian is always part of the larger body of Christ.
"We are not isolated individuals with Christ, we are a communion of holy ones along with the vision of God," he said.
The importance of being a vital Catholic is like a corporate venture, Bishop Warfel said.
"It is when we are both a disciple and apostle that our faith represents our full vitality," he added.
We’re formed as disciples, looking inward at our own spiritual life so that we can go out as apostles, he said.
Discipleship and stewardship are connected like ‘two wings on a bird’. It’s seen as an offering of people’s unique talents, gifts and resources to the church.
"What you receive as a gift — share as a gift," Bishop Warfel urged.
Evangelization and the Church community
He concluded his talk with a look at what the parish community as a whole can do to evangelize.
"The experience at Sunday Mass (or communion service) is probably the most important part of this — what we do will affect whether people come back," Bishop Warfel said. This means services must be welcoming, heartfelt celebrations that don’t water down the Gospel message, he said.
"A disciple must practice his or her faith and learn more about it," he said, while adding the importance of ongoing religious formation for all.
Finally, social justice issues are important, Bishop Warfel stressed. The church is a community involved in a relationship with others and Catholics can’t be indifferent to the social justice needs of the day, he added.
"To embody charity and justice is to look at life-giving ways instead of death-dealing ways to address social justice issues in our communities," he added.By embracing all of these principles as a communion of saints, Catholics will form a vital community offering all a taste of heaven, he concluded.
Make young adults a priority, says priest
It’s a matter of survival’
Catholic churches in the United States are growing old and gray as younger generations increasingly abandon church life and forsake their faith, Father John Cusick told a gathering of Alaska Catholics.
"Every generation of 20-somethings is more secular than the generation before," he said during the Sept. 28 talk at Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage. "Somehow we’ve just aged. We look a little older and a little thinner."
Speaking to a mostly middle-age and senior crowd during the Anchorage Archdiocese Discipleship Days conference last month, Father Cusick laid out a game plane for bringing young adults (those in their 20s and 30s) back to the fold.
"There are no guarantees," he prefaced his talk with. An increasingly secular culture with greater access and influence over young adults makes the church’s work all the more difficult, he said.
Despite the challenges, the Southside Chicago priest refuses to watch Catholic churches lose youth and vitality without a fight.
In 1977, Father Cusick started an innovative program called Theology on Tap in Chicago, which combined beer and Catholic teaching in an attempt to appeal to younger uninvolved Catholics. In three decades, the program has spread all across the United States, including the Anchorage Archdiocese.
It’s not that young adults are disinterested in spiritual matters, the church has just lost the ability to feed them, Father Cusick explained.
"This is a generation that is spiritually hungry," he said. They just need a reason to go to church.
It doesn’t help when young adults come to Sunday Mass without seeing a single fellow young adult helping with any part of the liturgy, Father Cusick said.
In fact, that’s one of the first things he checks out when walking into a new church.
"First thing I look at is who is involved in liturgy," he said.
In church after church, he sees very few men and lots of older parishioners "doing" church for the younger generation.
"That’s a problem," Father Cusick said. "We are talking about survival folks."
In order to get young adults excited about their Catholic faith, first you have to know who they are, he said. Often they are college students, young parents, single parents and children of older parishioners, he added. They typically move around a lot for school and employment, which means they might not know anyone in the neighborhood.
These people need personal invitations to get involved with church, Father Cusick explained. They won’t read Sunday bulletins to find out how to participate.
Better to use Jesus’ method of personal invitation, he said.
"Do you know how hard it is to turn down a personal invitation?" he asked. "How many of us got hooked up in the church because someone gave us a personal invitation?"
But getting young adults to show up is only half the battle, he said.
"Once you get them, you have to give them the truth," he said, and in a way that they can understand and incorporate into their lives.
For starters, don’t assume young adults know much about their faith or the even the Mass.
"Presume little and explain lots," he said.
Being relevant to young adults might also require older, well established church movements to rethink the way they operate. Less by-laws, attendance rules and regulations could appeal to younger Catholics and boost sagging memberships.
"The system is not as important as the value," he said. "We get locked into tradition and lose the value of things."
Offering occasional events for young adults to dialogue without committing to a winter program is another way to work with the time they give you, Father Cusick added. Sunday morning is a golden opportunity to reach young adults. If they give you that time, don’t waste it, he said.
Father Cusick also urged people to encourage new movements in their churches, especially if they address real needs and interests of young adults.
Parenting groups, marriage support and moms’ clubs were a few ideas he threw out.
Pastors also need to notice the little windows of opportunity when young adults venture back to church, he said. "Learn to celebrate their moments of return."
Father Cusick listed five major "moments of return" for young adults: marriage, baptism of children, sicknesses, deaths, and major life decisions.
These are moments when the church must shine, he said. "If we are not in connection with people, we miss these sacred moments."
A vivid portrayal of Saint Catherine of Sienna
Sister Murray delivers ‘riveting’ performance
A palpable buzz filled the room after Sister Ann Fallon introduced fellow Adrian Dominican Sister Nancy Murray as the opening headliner for Anchorage Archdiocese 2007 Discipleship Days conference.
Roughly 400 people eagerly scanned the Lumen Christi High School gym on Sept. 27, awaiting the dramatic performance of a nun who some only knew as the sister of former Saturday Night Live star Bill Murray.
By the end of the night, Sister Murray would be a name all her own.
As soon as the vivacious woman burst into the back of the school gym smiles started breaking out.
"Buon girorno, or is it buona sera? It’s hard to tell here in Alaska!" the actor said as she wandered towards the front of the room, exchanging warm greetings and hugs with the crowd while displaying knowledge of Alaskan culture. by using terms like "termination dust."
From those first moments, it was clear Sister Murray had captured the rapt attention of the room.
She proceeded to take the Anchorage crowd through the whole range of emotions, from laughter to serious reflection as she told the story of St. Catherine of Sienna, a doctor of the church who is famous for trying to heal the divisions of the Church in the 14th century.
Sister Murray switched characters so seamlessly it was like watching several performers. The effect helped her spiritual message connect, especially the idea of living with a strong contemplative and apostolic prayer life.
"Love of God and love of neighbor, the two are connected," she told the crowd. "By two feet you must walk (by God’s) way, on two wings you will fly to heaven!"
With any religious event, there’s a fine line between being "preachy" and getting the message across. Sister Murray navigated that line with style, artistic flair and humor.
"You are called to do something for God, but that’s between you and the Holy Spirit," she said in perfect mimic — if not over the top — impersonation of an Italian mother.Sister Murray concluded the night by encouraging people to put their faith into action. Overall, I left inspired and with more knowledge and appreciation for one of the greatest saints and doctors of the church.
Spirituality is not just a one-man show, says priest
"In an earlier time in the church, we had the vision that it was all about me and God," Father Jim Oberle said at the beginning of his talk entitled, "Spirituality in the 21st Century."
Speaking Sept. 28, during Discipleship Days at Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage Father Oberle said, spirituality today is focused on the idea of relationship, which is two pronged.
"This relationship has two dynamics," he explained. "It contains a vertical and horizontal aspect."
The vertical relationship is transcendent, focusing on the relational between God and oneself, he said. The horizontal aspect is the relationship with a community of believers.
"Relationship is how we get out of ourselves. Like a beautifully cut optic, you see all the aspects, like a diamond ring, but the only way I can discover these aspects is in relationship because I am drawn out," Father Oberle said.
He used the example of hiking a mountain to illustrate both aspects of this spirituality."I ascend the mountain because I know at the top of the mountain, there is the fullness of God," he said.
But there are challenges and obstacles along the way. That’s where the relationships come in, Father Oberle said. First, you have to be in spiritual shape.
"That’s done through prayer and adult spiritual formation," he explained. This helps our personal relationship grow with God, he said.
Most people go on hiking trips with someone else. That should also hold true during the ascent of the spiritual mountain, Father Oberle added.
"There’s also the relationship with a spiritual companion or guide to help us interpret what is going on," he said.
Finally, modern spirituality needs an outpouring of our spiritual life through action, Father Oberle concluded. This is the social justice aspect of our faith.
"Its more than just charity," he cautioned. "We Americans are good about responding to charity, but that is not the same as justice." Father Oberle challenged the audience to get involved in the political system to help change it."Churches play an essential part in the fabric of our nation," he said. "We have a obligation to tell our politicians that this is what our church teaches, and to have this inform our own political choices."
‘From the littlest comes the message of Christ’
Talk looks at Gospel of Matthew
Beginning with Advent this year, the church will restart the lectionary cycle with a focus on the Gospel of Matthew.
Father Ted Kestler took a closer look at that Gospel during Discipleship Days, Sept. 29, at Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage.
"Each of the Gospels has a specific focus and community that they were written for," Father Kestler said. "This means the author had a specific approach to try and spread the Gospel of Jesus."
Matthew’s Gospel is aimed specifically at Jewish followers of Christ, he said, most of whom still practiced Judaism but faced persecution.
In 70 A.D. the Romans destroyed and burned the temple, Father Kestler explained. To help answer the question of why God allowed this, Jewish leaders took a closer look at reforming Judaism. As a result, fringe groups of Judaism, including Matthews’s community, suffered persecution and even expulsion from synagogues.
"Matthew addressed to his community that their new beliefs did not mean they were abandoning their Jewish way of life and culture," Father Kestler said. "Rather, by following Jesus, it enabled them to fulfill what their culture and way of life is all about."
The author, most likely a highly trained rabbi, also looked to provide materials for teaching and the true meaning of the law, he said.
The central part of the Gospel is found in Matthew 13 — the ‘Parables of the Kingdom’. From this, comes one of Matthew’s most famous parables of the mustard seed, Father Kestler said.
"This parable illustrates the central message of the Gospel of Matthew," he added. "The whole key here is the smallest. Through the littlest and the least comes the Kingdom of God."
Other themes Father Kestler pointed out in the Gospel of Matthew:
Teacher vs. Lord: Whenever someone calls Jesus Teacher it’s a trap or trick. Rabbis are the so-called enemies in Mathew’s gospel. Anyone who wants to see Jesus in a positive light calls him Lord. (Example: Matt 14:32)Falling to one’s knees: In Matthew’s gospel an appropriate response when realizing Jesus is Lord is to fall on your knees. (Example: Matt 28:17)
Catholic group supports those with disabilities
Gifts: Families feel blessed
Like many Gen. X-ers, 34-year-old David Moss’s life is jam-packed. When not working, he’s either training for hockey, skiing, swimming, playing floor hockey or rooting for his beloved Seattle Mariners. He’s also an Eagle Scout who still volunteers with his childhood troop.
Despite the busy schedule, Moss makes sure to carve out time for God.
"Dave goes to Daily Mass with us when he can," his mother Evelyn said. "For the last year and a half, he’s also been the (sole) server at the Saturday night Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe."
The difference, however, between Moss and most of his fellow 30-somethings is that he has Down Syndrome.
For more than a decade he has been an active member in the ‘Jesus Only You’ (JOY) community, a vibrant group of Catholics that ministers to people with mental, developmental or physical disabilities.
"The Joy community is a vibrant and alive part of the church," said Sister Kathleen O’Hara, RSM, who helps lead the Anchorage group.
Founded in 1978, the Joy community was formed by Presentation Sister Mary Clare Ciulla. She established the group to help minister to special needs people and prepare them for the sacraments.
Over the years the JOY community’s gathered one Sunday a month at various locations, including Archbishop Emeritus Francis Hurley’s house.
"This group is very special to him," said Natalie Carey, a parent of a special needs child.
Today the community meets for Mass and fellowship at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Most members eagerly look forward to the meeting, held on the third Sunday of each month.
"I like to come and help serve," member Bryan Carey said.
Carey, an extrovert athlete with a powerful handshake, loves to meet people. The JOY community helped him learn that, his mother Natalie said.
That’s a real learning experience for Bryan to walk up and shake hands," she explained. "This is a very comfortable setting and a place for our special people to have their own parish."
"The whole thing is touching. These kids are in Special Olympics, and in all sorts of things," Sister O’Hara said. "They are in it because their parents have supported and encouraged them."
Not only is the JOY community a support for those who deal with mental or physical disabilities, it also provides support for parents and families.
"You have an understanding of other people and their problems when they have a handicapped child, you’re tolerant of more situations," Evelyn Moss said.
Natalie Carey was quick to point out that the tone of the group is friendly — not clinical.
"We’re not a counseling group," she said. "We’re just friends among friends…this is a very comfortable setting."
"There’s a lot of love in this organization," said member Cindy Bombeck.
Bombeck has worked with the JOY community for over 20 years. She came after an invitation from a person at her husband’s business. While none of her children are special needs, she does have a godchild who is. Bombeck still feels it’s important for her children to be involved in the ministry and would encourage others to get involved as well."People can offer a lot of talents to the group and the JOY members have talents to offer as well," Bombeck said.
‘Saints among us’
"You have a lot of good things. You have a saint with you who could do no wrong," Natalie Carey said. "These types of people are a great joy!"
Many of the JOY community families speak of how much joy and blessing those with special needs bring into their life. Often times there are a lot of stereotypes out there about people who deal with things like Down syndrome, Evelyn Moss said.
"Its important to educate other people that these kids can be normal kids too," she said. "That’s hard to believe for some people."
Natalie Carey went a step further.
"You get far more than you give," she said.
For more information about the JOY community, call James DeCrane at 297-7708.
Annual Appeal improves
Taking ownership: Total participation and gifts increase
Despite economic uncertainties such as rising fuel costs and a downturn in the housing market, local Catholics still managed to give $100,000 more to the Anchorage Archdiocese’s 2007 One Bread-One Body Annual Appeal than they did last year.
Participation levels rose as well, jumping from 17.3 percent in 2006 to 20.2 percent in 2007.
"I’m very happy to see the development that there are more people participating this year," Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz told the Anchor last month.
With participation growing from 1,644 families last year to 1,968 this year, the average contribution naturally dropped slightly from $426 to $407 but Archbishop Schwietz praised the fact that more families are pitching in to help fund the work of the church.
"I think more people are discovering that they don’t have to give a huge amount to give to the campaign," he said. "It is whatever they can afford."
Overall, the appeal yielded slightly more than $800,000, which covers about 14 percent of the archdiocese total annual budget.
The remaining funds come from other local donations, wills, additional gifts outside the annual appeal and a parish assessment. In addition, about 15 percent of the annual budget is generated from outside grants like Catholic Church Extension and the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Home Missions.
While the Catholic Church in Alaska is still considered a mission of the U.S. church, Archbishop Schwietz said he was encouraged that the archdiocese is taking greater responsibility for itself and showing a greater sense of ownership.
"More and more we have to take responsibility for ourselves. We can’t just rely on the outside collections," he said. "We can take greater responsibility and I think this year showed that."
Eventually the archdiocese hopes to raise local participation level to the national average of 33 percent, said Jim Caldarola, director for the Office of Stewardship and Development for the archdiocese.
"We’ll use that as a target to try and edge our way up," he said. "We did better than we did last year and I’m convinced we will do better next year."
Caldarola credits some of the success of the appeal to local parishes that took time to focus on the appeal throughout the winter. In addition, parishes generally gave more when they added a parish goal to their archdiocesan goal, he said.
Convenience might have also played a factor with about 25 percent of all donations coming via credit card. That’s nearly double from last year.
While the official 2007 appeal has concluded, Caldarola said the overall money raised is likely to increase thanks to individuals who wait to give a portion of their Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend.
As the success of appeal continues to improve, Archbishop Schwietz said he hopes to lighten the diocesan assessment on parishes, which helps to fund the archdiocese.
"With the help of this campaign, we are making financial planning more predictable for parishes," he added.
A full report of the 2007 annual appeal will be published in early 2008.
Eastern rite Catholics celebrate 50 years in Alaska
It’s anniversary time for Catholics who worship from the Byzantine rite in Alaska.
St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Church celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy followed by a reception on Sept. 20.
Parish administrator Father Michael Hornick explained that 24 priests from the Ephary of Van Nuys – the eastern equivalent of a diocese – joined Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz and two Byzantine bishops in marking the event.
For Catholics of the Roman rite – by far the majority in Alaska – St. Nicholas is something of a well-kept secret.
A rustic church with a stunning lighted dome, it is tucked away on Arctic Boulevard near Valley of the Moon Park.
Despite misconceptions, the Eastern rite church is obedient to the Bishop of Rome – the pope — and attendance at an Eastern rite Mass fulfills the Sunday obligation to attend Mass. However, there are some differences.
"There’s a huge difference," said Father Hornick, a priest of the archdiocese who is serving at St. Nicholas with the consent of Archbishop Schwietz and Bishop William Skurla of the Byzantine Diocese in Van Nuys.
Although the faith is the same, "it’s totally culturally and liturgically different," he explained. "The eastern rite has the same liturgy source as the Russian Orthodox Church."
Indeed, if a stranger were to visit St. Nicholas of Myra, he might mistake it for an Orthodox Church. The interior of St. Nicholas is covered in icons with sparkling chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
As for the liturgy, it is entirely sung – but there are no musical instruments used during worship, because it is not part of the cultural tradition.
Another thing that might surprise the stranger is that even infants receive the Eucharist in the form of a drop or two of the Precious Blood.
"The holy mysteries of initiation – baptism, chrismation (confirmation), and Eucharist are all given to infants," explained Father Hornick.
The existence of various "rites" is centuries old. When the capital of the Roman Empire was moved from Rome to the city of Byzantium – renamed Constantinople – it became a great center of Christianity. An adaptation of the Antiochian Liturgy grew there, and the ritual that emerged – different from the Roman – became known as the Byzantine Rite.
The great missionaries Cyril and Methodius traveled to Eastern Europe from Constantinople, where they converted the Slavic peoples with the Byzantine Rite. The Byzantine Rite is today divided by ethnic groupings. The ethnic grouping to which St. Nicholas of Myra belongs is the Ruthenian.
St. Nicholas has an informative website, (www.ak-byz-cath.org), maintained by Stephen Vrabel, who is studying to be a deacon for the church in Alaska.
Vrabel’s own journey to the Eastern rite was a circuitous one. Born in Cleveland, his father was Slovak and his mother Irish – "staunchly Roman Catholic," he said. He was raised in the Roman rite, not really knowing much about his father’s eastern heritage.
Later, like lots of young folks, a stint with the military took him away from organized religion.
Yet, "in the desert of secular society I was dying for the Eucharist," he said, adding that he became attracted to the Orthodox faith with its hints of his Slovakian grandparents. His Puerto Rican wife, however, resisted any notion of leaving the Catholic Church, said Vrabel.
Eventually, after moving to Anchorage, his own son came home from Holy Rosary Academy one day and had made a good friend who attended St. Nicholas of Myra.
For Vrabel, it was a homecoming, one that has brought him deeply into the heart of his faith. His deaconate studies take him back to a Byzantine Seminary in Pittsburgh for studies each summer, and during the year he’s busy with a study program and writing papers.
St. Nicholas of Myra, with about 45 families, is the only Eastern rite parish in Alaska and on their Web site they boast that "Alaska is our parish – all 586,412 square miles of it." The church maintains a mission in Wasilla, Blessed Theodore Romzha Mission.
It was in 1957 that Most Reverend Nicholas Elko, Exarch of Pittsburgh, sent two priests to Alaska, one to Juneau and one to Anchorage. During the first year, services were held at what was then called Holy Family Church, but by 1958 the Arctic Boulevard property was purchased.
Although several priests have served the community, probably the best known was Father Michael Artim, who later was named a "mitred archpriest," something akin to a monsignor in the Roman rite. Father Artim reinvigorated the church, paid off a large debt and increased membership. He retired in 1985.
In 1995, the complex was totally remodeled and a large hall, named "Artim Hall" was added, along with two new domes and a garage.
Strategic planning provides the way
SEAS sharpens pastoral vision
As 15-year parishioners at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and with two children currently enrolled in the parish school, my family and I have an active interest in the future direction of our parish.
As a new member of the pastoral council, I’m excited about the future as we seek to align our pastoral priorities with the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan.
As a business owner I know from experience the importance of good strategic planning. Considering the size of SEAS, our pastoral council agreed with our pastor’s suggestion that we consider hiring a professional facilitator, experienced in the field of planning, so that we could remain objective and move through a complex process in a relatively short time. I was involved in interviewing the candidates and feel that the person we selected, Belinda Breaux, has the right fit for SEAS.
Belinda tailored a process to fit our needs, coordinating both with parish leadership and the archdiocese. We’re currently re-examining our vision and mission statements and then naming the values we hold important. Our entire parish is invited to participate through a survey mailed to all homes and available on our parish Web site. The results will serve as a compass as we begin looking at selected areas of our parish life.
We recently enjoyed a "Saturday Day of Reflection" where pastoral council members and other key leaders reflected upon questions like, "Why does SEAS exist?," "How should SEAS carry out its mission?" and "How do you envision SEAS will look in 10 years?"
I was uncomfortable when I first arrived but quickly found the process exciting and rewarding. It was amazing how mission and vision statements started to take shape and the three small groups named many of the same values like, "to be a welcoming community;" "to be unified in our Catholic faith," and "to foster an active outreach to the Anchorage community."We have much work still to accomplish, and all input is valuable. This is a work in progress, with the final goal of establishing a one-page document that lists our parish vision, mission and values and also establishes concrete, short-term action items for the next 1-3 years. We hope our planning process unites our parish and reflects our community’s heartfelt desire to follow the will of our Lord as his faithful disciples. I’m excited about the journey.
News & Notes
Br. Francis Shelter to mark 25 years
On Sunday, Oct. 7, the Brother Francis Shelter will celebrate its 25th anniversary of service in Anchorage. Normally, the celebration coincides with a special Mass on the feast of St. Francis, but this year, the celebration will be ecumenical.
"We wanted to do something different this year because this is a community shelter that receives support from the entire community," said Susan Bombalaksi, Director of Catholic Social Services. "This is larger than the Catholic community because of the support from the greater community."Representatives from other Christian faiths and the Jewish community will participate in the service, which begins at 2 p.m. at the Brother Francis Shelter, located on 3rd Avenue.
Praying Scripture at Holy Family
Lectio Divina is an ancient way of praying the scriptures by listening to the Word of God at ever deepening levels. It is also a primary source for the method of centering prayer. An introductory workshop with continuing sessions will be offered Saturday, Oct. 6, in the Education Center of Holy Family Cathedral from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no fee for this workshop but donations will be accepted. For registration or more information contact Kess Frey at 338-2894.
Nine-Week Scripture Studies
The Archdiocese of Anchorage is sponsoring a 9-week study of the Book of Exodus put on by Seattle University’s SALT program. The series will be presented at both St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church or the Holy Spirit center and begins the week of Oct. 7. The cost of the program is $75. For more info. contact Sr. Jo Gaugier at jo.gaugier@caa-ak.org or call 297-7742.
Rosary rally set for Oct. 13
To mark the 90th anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima, there will be a Rosary Rally Oct. 13, 7-8 p.m., at Blessed Sacrament Monastery.
Dorothy Miller, who is coordinating the event, said over 1,000 such rallies are planned throughout the U.S. by an organization called "America Needs Fatima."
Fatima is a village in Portugal where three young children claimed they witnessed visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary beginning Oct. 13, 1917.
Honoring those who’ve died
On Oct. 13, the Alaska Native Heritage Center will hold their third annual community-wide "Remembering the Light" ceremony to honor those who have died. Lantern construction begins at 4 p.m. with the main ceremony at 7 p.m. For more information call 561-5322 or email Lisa at lisa@hospiceofanchorage.org.
Parish nursing
Parish Nurses of Alaska and Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries in collaboration with Providence Health System Alaska are sponsoring two training courses for nurses interested in parish ministry. Parish nursing focuses on "whole-person" care "including the patient’s spiritual, physical and emotional needs", according to Adrian Dominican Sister Jackie Stoll, the Anchorage Archdiocesan coordinator for parish nursing and Parish Ministries of Health. The first course will be offered at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Soldotna on Oct. 11-13 and November 1-3. The second course will be offered Jan. 10 to March 6, 2008 at Providence Medical Center in Anchorage. For more information, visit www.archdioceseofanchorage.org/nurse.htm or contact Sister Stoll at 297-7736 or jsckie.stoll@caa-ak.org.
Theology on Tap
Renowned Catholic writer and columnist James Bemis will present a talk about how the rejection of Christian roots is impacting Europe. In a recent article, Bemis wrote about how the loss of faith is affecting devastating population changes in Europe. Only by embracing life and faith will nations be able to recover and heal, he argues.
"In practical terms, Europe is experiencing the most sustained population reduction since the ‘Black Death’ plague of the 14th century," Bemis writes, adding that there is hope, by embracing Christianity.
Bemis will be the next guest speaker at Theology on Tap at the Hacienda Restaurant in Wasilla on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. and in Anchorage at the Snow Goose Restaurant on Oct. 18 at 7 pm. For more information about the Wasilla talk, contact Rick Aaron at rickileen@catholicexchange.com. For Anchorage information, contact Arthur Roraff at roraff@gmail.com.
Latin Mass is still in the works
Several priests expressed interest in celebrating or learning how to celebrate the pre-1962 Latin language Mass in the Anchorage Archdiocese.In a recent interview with the Anchor, Archbishop Roger Schwietz said there is still quite a bit of groundwork to cover before the pre-1962 Mass will be available in the archdiocese."I’m committed to making this happen," he said. To move forward, however, there needs to be a parish to host the Mass and qualified priests to celebrate it, he added.
In July, Pope Benedict XVI issued his apostolic letter "Summorum Pontificum," which eased restriction of the use of the 1962 Roman Missal – the standard form of the Mass before the new Order of the Mass was introduced in 1970. The new papal decree now allows for the celebration of the Latin liturgy by any priest qualified in the language and rubrics.
While there is interest in having a local Tridentine Mass, one of the challenges in Alaska is the fact that so few priest know how to celebrate the Mass, Archbishop Schwietz said.
The topic came up at the recent priest retreat in Anchorage, where Archbishop Schwietz asked if there were any priests who wanted to learn how to celebrate the Latin language Mass. The next step is to provide training to those who expressed interest."We want to be faithful to what the pope asked," Archbishop Schwietz said. "But when we do this, we want to do it well."
Mayor promotes family meal times
Mayor Mark Begich and the Salvation Army joined a national movement to promote family dinners by holding their own special meal Sept. 24 at the Salvation Army’s McKinnel House, Anchorage’s only emergency shelter for two-parent families and single fathers.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse founded "Family Day: A day to eat dinner with your children" to combat substance abuse by encouraging parents to spend quality time with their children.
"Some of my best memories are of sitting around the dinner table with my family," Mayor Begich said. "I encourage all families to make it a priority to be together at mealtimes, whenever possible."
Researchers with CASA at Columbia University conducted a study that found that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs. As children enter their teen years, they are at even greater risk of substance abuse, which makes eating dinner together crucial, the study found.
New pastor shares talents
St. Mary’s new pastor is enthusiastic and musically talented. Fr. Ronnie "Ron" Licayan celebrated his third year of serving as a priest in Alaska on Tuesday, September 25th. He is from Butuan City in the Philippines and has been a priest for ten years, ordained on May 27, 1997. This is his first assignment as a pastor, after serving in Anchorage as an associate pastor and in the Philippines in campus ministry. Fr. Ron explains: "My goal is really the care of the flock, the animation of the faith, in all these things I’m just one of the fellow pilgrims in this history of salvation of the church in Kodiak. I believe God is already here, coming here is like joining a journey with the people of God and sharing my gifts of my priesthood." After being assigned to Kodiak he said he felt great joy: "I was so happy; the sense of peace is so good here." Fr. Ron’s approach to ministry is family based.
He also is enjoying working with St. Mary’s School’s new principal, Josh Lewis.
Columns
Priests must collaborate in multi-faceted ministry
The recent arrival of additional priests in the Anchorage Archdiocese is a multifaceted blessing.
It provides a broader and more stable presence of ordained ministers who can work with religious and lay leaders already present in our parish communities.
This development gives us an opportunity to reflect on the priorities that priests bring to pastoral ministry.
Pope Benedict XVI offered some reflections in this regard during his recent dialogue with Italian clergy. Referring to the many demands on the time and energy of priests today, one priest asked the pope: "What are the priorities we should aim for in our ministry as priests and parish priests to avoid fragmentation…"
Referring to the mission the Lord gave the 70 disciples, the pope said there are three great priorities or imperatives: pray, provide care, and preach.
"I think we should find the balance between those three basic imperatives and keep them ever present as the heart of our work," the pope said.
I offer some of my own reflections taken from the pope’s talk.
Without a personal and ever deepening relationship with God in Jesus Christ, nothing else can function. The daily celebration of the Eucharist, divine office and meditation are essential for priests to become men of God. Bishops and treatment facility staff consistently reported that priests who got into trouble stated that their difficulties often started when they stopped praying.
In the second imperative Jesus told his disciples to tend the sick, seek those who have strayed and those in need.
The church has a love for the marginalized and suffering, no matter their economic status. This entails knowing those entrusted to us.
Pope Benedict said it was necessary, "To have human contact and not to loose our humanity, because God was made man and consequently strengthened all dimensions of our being as human."
Our sacramental ministry is particularly important here. The ministry of reconciliation is an act of extraordinary caring and the anointing of the sick is an opportunity for healing and peace. I ask all priests to put time and energy into these.
Then there is preaching. What do we preach? We preach the kingdom of God. As the pope said, this kingdom is not some distant utopia.
"God himself is near to us and we must draw close to this God who is close for he was made man, remains man and is always with us in his Word, in the Most Holy Eucharist and in all believers," the pope said.
Speaking of this God and the truth of the Gospel brings inspiration and hope to people.
Collaboration makes everything possible
Being faithful to these priorities, I believe, is essential to effectively carry out our priestly ministry today. These times can be difficult for priests, but they are probably not much different from those of St. Augustine’s day.
In his sermon on pastors, the saint wrote, "In one way or another, we go on living between the hands of robbers and the teeth of raging wolves, and in the light of these present dangers we ask for your prayers."Of course, each one of us is a limited person with particular gifts. In order to serve well we have to delegate and collaborate. A couple years ago, we began the process of preparing our Pastoral Plan by reflecting on the nature of collaboration. This dynamic must be a central part of our priestly service if we are to achieve our goal of growing into a vital and evangelizing local church.
Augie had a mission to Alaska
By Archbishop Emeritus Francis Hurley
August "Augie" Hiebert possibly touched the lives of more Alaskans than anyone else in the state. He was one of that small, select group of Old Timers who scattered radio waves and TV signals all across Alaska. He also provided stimulus for many others who took advantage of the airways.
Augie’s family figured rightly that their parish, Holy Family Cathedral, would not accommodate the many who wanted to pay tribute to him last month. Therefore, the new Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Anchorage was selected for his funeral Mass. As expected, many came: family and relatives, family friends, radio and TV dignitaries, commandants from the Air Force, Army, Navy, National Guard, long-time Alaskans, and a few of those remaining who, with Augie, launched and developed the radio and TV industry in Alaska.
Augie Hiebert might be described as a man on a mission to people. The radio and TV industries became his challenge, which he met and mastered. But the challenge was also his mission to the people of Alaska, especially to Natives in remote regions of Western Alaska. At one point, the Western villages were getting live national TV broadcasts before Anchorage, thanks very much to Augie. The Jesuit Fathers turned to him to find out how to use radio for the Natives. KNOM was born in Nome, Alaska, and still broadcasts across Western Alaska. When Pope John Paul II came to Anchorage in 1981, Augie saw to it that the visit was carried on live radio and TV.
Augie Hiebert was not born or raised a Catholic but those who knew him know that his wife, Pat, a very deeply spiritual member of Holy Family Cathedral, his daughters, and his association with the Jesuit Fathers in Alaska missions would eventually open up that airwave for him as well. More basically, however, he was motivated by the people on the receiving end of his efforts. Augie loved people and always reached out to them. It was the basic law of the prophets, "to love your neighbor as yourself," that unleashed the love of God that he saw all around him.
Augie had to go to Washington, D.C. frequently to deal with — and confront — the Federal government entanglements in the developing communications industry. He was very persuasive in that, as others can testify.
But back there he also learned about the Catholic Order of the Knights of Malta, a 12th Century layman’s group, committed to hospital and medical services for poor people in countries around the world. In particular ambulance services in devastated lands is one of their signature services. The Knights of Malta have their headquarters on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. Augie Hiebert was the only Alaskan member.
The writer is the retired archbishop of Anchorage.
Writing my own obituary:
Father Tero shares his thoughts
As a priest in Alaska for 33 years, I’ve celebrated many funeral Masses, but never thought to write my own funeral homily. It was hard enough to do that for my dad, two brothers and several close friends.
However, at the annual Anchorage Archdiocese’ fall priest retreat this year, Paulist Father Tom Ryan offered reflections about preparing for death. He said we should live life with the thought that God will call us home one day.
Father Ryan told us priests to write what we wanted on our tombstone. That was easy. On the board next to others I wrote, "In gratitude for being called by Jesus to serve in Alaska in the footsteps of the giants."
When I was a new priest, late Anchorage Archbishop Joseph Ryan asked us all to write our wills because Bishop Dermot O’Flanagan, Msgr. Edgar Gallant and Msgr. James Snead had recently died and there was some confusion as to their final plans. I wrote in my will that I wanted to be buried with the priests at the new cemetery of Angelus on Klatt Road in Anchorage.
Now that I’m 64, that day is nearer. Father Tom Ryan urged us to write our own obituary to spare someone else the task. He told us to write things that mattered to us most. It wasn’t a dark experience, but one that shed light on my life’s pilgrimage.
We had a limited word count and three examples, including Father Al Giebel’s (four years my junior), who the Lord called home this past June.
Writing my obituary reminded me of the wonderful people I have served in Alaska parishes: Our Lady of Guadalupe in Anchorage; St. Mary Church in Kodiak, St. Patrick Church in Anchorage, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Soldotna; Sacred Heart in Seward and as the residing pastor at Our Lady of the Angels in Kenai the last three years.
My Alaska adventures also include walking in the footsteps of giants. We had Archbishop Charles Seghers’ journals of 1886 and his chalice when we paddled the Yukon River and hiked the Chilkoot Trail a hundred years after him. We had Father William Judge’s 1898 letters from Forty-Mile and Dawson when we canoed that river. When Father Bernard Hubbard wrote about the Katmai Volcano in 1930 it was still smoking from 1912 but not when we hiked there in 1980 and camped with the bears. We read the St. Ann sisters’ memories of Holy Cross and Copper Valley School as we rafted the Copper River and Msgr. John Lunney’s stories of the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake as we poked around Cordova. We celebrated Mass on my 26-foot sailboat at Port Etches, the entrance to Prince William Sound, where in 1779 Father Riolo and two other Spanish priests celebrated the first Mass in what later became the Anchorage Archdiocese.
Father Ryan also suggested we write a list of things we want to do before the Lord calls us home. Then, he said to post it and do as many as we can to rejoice in the life the Lord gives us.
That was the high point of the retreat.
The writer currently serves as pastor in Homer, Kenai, Ninilchik, Seward and Soldotna.
Bono and Jolie dig deeper than Hollywood peers
My dentist, like most dentists, subscribes to a variety of magazines for his reception room to allay the anxiety associated with root canals or other such painful procedures.
I happened to be sitting in such a reception room some weeks ago and picked up a copy of People Magazine off the top of the stack. People Magazine, as you know, is not concerned about ordinary folks. It’s the rich and famous they feature because they know that at least some of us are interested in famous people.
I am not personally much interested in the rich and famous as a genre, (actually I don’t know very many) but I sometimes like to know what, if anything, drives their lives, other than the night life and fast cars.
The issue I picked up featured text and photos of three young women whom many teenagers today know very well and often try to emulate Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Brittany Spears. Truthfully, I could not find very much in the text that would indicate to me that these young women were seriously concerned about life in the world, except the fast life. Actually, their interests appeared rather dull to me.
I also noted, however, in the same issue of that magazine two articles featuring other rich and famous people, but in this case they were famous not for night life but for saving life. The two were: Bono (aka David Paul Hewson) lead vocalist for the Irish rock band U2 and the actress, Angelina Jolie. Bono, as many know, has traveled to Africa on many occasions, not to entertain, but to campaign for Third-World debt relief and to help raise awareness of the plight of the poor and those suffering from AIDS.
Angelina Jolie, who, in her own words, was once a "hell-raiser," has recently gained considerable attention for her personal humanitarian work: She funds Global Action for Children, advocates funding for AIDS prevention and education for children in Sudanese refugee camps. She has adopted several children from Third-World countries.
In the few moments I had before the dentist’s assistant beckoned me to "the chair," I could not help but reflect on the stark contrast between these five individuals. The descriptive word that came to my mind was "healer." Two were healers, three could have cared less about healing of any sort. They were too busy being noticed by the paparazzi.
I was later reminded of these articles as I read the scriptures for the Twenty Eighth Sunday of the Church year, which also speaks so clearly about two individuals, the prophet Elisha and Jesus, both of whom knew something about the human struggle against disease and did something about it. Obviously, neither were entertainers, but they had the gift of "noticing" and followed through.
Bono and Angelina Jolie have also been awarded personal honors by world leaders for "noticing" the plight of Third World countries. Bono has been invited to the White House several times to receive personal recognition from the president. Colin Powell, former secretary of State, says of Ms. Jolie: "Her work with refugees is not something to decorate herself. There is no sanctimony about her. For her, it’s not about saving the world, it’s about saving kids."
Speaking for the most of us then, I should imagine that if we had the option of being rich and famous or of being a healer, we might choose the latter. Even wealth and notoriety, for all their glitziness, eventually lose their attraction. The work of healing, on the other hand, is always personally rewarding even though our story and our photo may never appear in People Magazine.
The writer is archdiocesan director of Pastoral Education. He also serves as canonical pastor and coordinator of parishes without resident pastors.
Why did God bargain with Abraham?
In whom do we confide and what does that say about the person and our relationship to them? If the matter of confidence involves future plans, then the relationship includes giving your confidant the power to change your mind.
These thoughts filled my mind as I pondered the first reading from Mass a few weeks ago. The reading was about Abraham bargaining with God not to destroy Sodom.
What interested me most was the unasked question floating up from the previous versus. Why did God confide in Abraham about his plans for Sodom?
In the text, the three visitors (the Lord) had just told Abraham that they would return in a year and that Sarah would be with child. Then, they rose to go and the Lord mused, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do…For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice…"
Keep in mind, God knew exactly what was going on in Sodom and he knew he would allow Abraham to talk him into saving the city for the sake of 10 good men. He also knew that there weren’t 10 good men in Sodom and that it would be destroyed nonetheless. Therefore, the events unfold for our benefit, to show us a glimpse of the nature of our Creator. In this case God shows us what is important to him.
The Lord confided in Abraham because he knew Abraham would be a good father.
Apparently our Creator has a high opinion of the value of fatherhood. I see no evidence that our own society shares such an opinion. I do see a glorification of the pursuit of money and power. Those things which once existed only to sustain the family have now become the main focus.
It’s not as if Abraham was shorn of these more recognizable popular attributes.
Abraham was rich. In fact, his herds were so bountiful that he allowed Lot, his nephew, to take his pick from all the land under Abraham’s influence because their combined livestock caused a strain on the natural resources. Lot chose the Jordan plain and that is how he ended up in Sodom.
Abraham was also powerful. When the five kings sacked Sodom and took Lot and his family prisoner, Abraham staged a counter assault with just his family and farm hands. They defeated the kings and rescued Abraham’s extended family. He even did the impossible by refusing the largesse offered by the rescued political leadership.
Rich and powerful. These are the traits of our heroes and yet the Lord counted them as nothing.
I, too, would like to count the influence of money and power as nothing, but it is difficult. The noise of our culture seems bent on convincing us that this life is our destination and its value is directly proportional to our status and accumulations. This modern view contrasts sharply with the Lord’s assessment of Abraham’s quality and we would do well to remember it.
The writer teaches church history at St. Andrew Church in Eagle River.
World Youth Day highlights universal church
Many events help young people understand why they are Catholic but none do a better job than World Youth Day.
Where else can you encounter the universal church, the Pope, our bishops, great teachings about our faith, and the sacraments with millions of other young adult Catholics?
As the countdown to World Youth Day approaches 300 days I thought it might be appropriate to begin looking at the top five reasons every youth and young adult in the Anchorage Archdiocese should consider attending world youth day.
Reason number five: Gathering together with young Catholics from over 160 different countries illustrates our universal church in an incredible way. This is especially true when you listen to the stories people share from their home countries.
In Rome, I encountered a man from Eritrea while at a catechetical site. I don’t remember his name and I’m not sure if I could pick him out in a crowd, but I will never forget his story. He was one of four people from his country who were allowed to leave for WYD. He told me about where he lived and the problems his nation faced.
It seems his country was at war, and all males under 35 were being drafted into the army. When he returned home, he would be drafted also. His village was bombed on a regular basis, no one was allowed to leave the country, and he could not even take a book about the Pope home with him. He talked about how important the church and his faith were to him.
If his life wasn’t already challenging enough, he also had a dilemma that weighed heavily on his heart. His family asked him not to return home. Not because they did not like him but because they loved him. They wanted a better life for their son and knew that Eritrea could not provide it. They also knew that once he returned, he would never be allowed to leave again. He only had one chance for freedom and a better life. The dilemma became more challenging because his parish priest asked him to come home. He wanted him to share his experience with others. He also knew that the government would not let others leave for future WYDs if those that went this year did not return.
I do not know what he did, and probably never will, but I do know that his story challenged me to never take my religious freedom for granted.
Join us for WYD 2008 in Sydney Australia. You will never look at the Universal Church the same way again.
Next month, we’ll look at reason number four for attending WYD.
For more information, check out the WYD registration form found at the Archdiocesan website or contact Bob McMorrow at rmcmorrow2@aol.com for more details.
The writer is a member of the Anchorage Archdiocese Youth Evangelization Team.
Editorials
Secular culture often misreads the human body
Last month, an article appeared in the Anchorage Daily News alerting readers to the rising cost of contraceptives in Alaska ("Birth control suddenly too costly for some," Sept. 19).
According to the article, local Planned Parenthood offices and University of Alaska officials are receiving less federal subsidies that allow them to offer inexpensive contraceptives to college students and other Alaskans. This is an unintended consequence of a 2005 federal law aiming to reduce the national debt.
As a result, many students now pay higher prices for contraceptives, a fact that deeply concerns Planned Parenthood and University of Alaska officials.
The article quotes Mary Anne Wilson, UAA Student Health and Counseling Center director as stating that, "(Students) are forced to make a decision between maybe books or food and contraception."
In another spot the writer of the article, Julia O’Malley, interjects her opinion that with the rising costs for contraception "there aren’t many good alternatives."
More specifically, there aren’t many good alternatives to cheap contraceptives for those who have never heard or don’t believe that sex is far nobler than an activity to be "practice" safely with plenty of "protection."
A whole new generation is growing up under the bankrupt misnomer that STDs and unwanted pregnancies are the built-in risks of sex – a risk best minimized by inexpensive contraceptives.
Outside the context of a few churches, one rarely hears of the divine purpose and high calling of redeemed human sexuality. It’s not an easy topic to tackle.
However, at Discipleship Days last month, Father Mike Shields gave an inspired talk at Lumen Christi High School, in which he pulled the veil off of these clouded and murky visions of human sexuality.
Drawing heavily from Pope John Paul II’s "Theology of the Body," Father Shields spoke of a sexuality that doesn’t worry about whether unfamiliar partners are carrying diseases or whether partners will commit to supporting a child if pregnancy occurs.
Father Shields presented a version of human sexuality in which men and women commit themselves to each other and to the new human life that might result from their union. It was a beautiful but sacrificial vision. In fact, it requires a treacherously difficult commitment to let Christ heal the many sexual brokenness and wounds that now lie in the wake of what passed as the "sexual revolution."
The late pontiff’s call for a new revolution is not the tired words of an aging Roman pope or the judgmental condemnations of an out-of-touch celibate.
Rather, John Paul’s "Theology of the Body" is a fresh take on an ancient truth: Humans were made for God – our hearts, our minds and our very bodies. These bodies have a dignity and a purpose that can never be realized so long as we view them as something we own. Just like earthly riches, our bodies belong to God.
This message of hope is missing from the offices of Planned Parenthood of Alaska and the Student Health and Counseling Center at UAA. Unfortunately, these offices perpetuate the same broken message. UAA health fairs, the student health Web site and other collage presentations throughout the year, treat sex like a fun, amoral and yet somewhat dangerous pastime, which can be indulged so long as "practiced" safely.
The underlying message to college students is that there is no high calling or purpose to human sexuality. Just create a personal ethic, stick to it, and try to avoid negative consequences. This approach requires cheap contraceptives, regular STD testing, possibly even an abortion and psychological counseling. These are the "alternatives."It’s a deceptive message, perpetuated by public funding and our own state university. It’s an injustice to Alaska students because there is a much more compelling vision.
We need for priests, peacocks and laypeople
Apparently I have a ‘peacock personality’.
At least, that’s what the results claimed from a personality test that I took during a recent Lumen Christi High School student government retreat.
Debbie Brewer, the advisor for student government expressed great glee when I shared my results.
"I knew it!" she exclaimed with the look of the cat that got the canary.
I was in good company, the majority of students and a couple of other teachers also tested as having "peacock" personalities. ‘Peacocks" — according to Brewer — are energetic and fast paced, always looking for excitement and adventure. They’re artistic, messy and outgoing. Typically peacocks choose (big surprise here) careers like television producing, teaching or writing. The irony. As much as I dislike the name ‘peacock,’ I concede that Ms Brewer MIGHT be right.
Helping out as a teacher at the student government event gave me an opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of vocations. After all, the students were discerning how to serve the school best.
For me, spirituality is the most important driving motivator in my life, and I know that I am called to serve the church in a specific way. Another "peacock" motto might be "Go big or go home!" Surely, if I were to serve the church, I must be called to be a priest. Why not discern that call, and if that’s not it, it must not be with the church. After all, who’d want to serve as a layperson or in the single vocation?
But that’s when I really started to think about it. Being single is a vocation. In fact, when Ms. Brewer asked if I would chaperone, I said yes. Sure, I thought of a lot of good excuses, like the Colts pre-season football game or the siren song of my nice, warm, soft bed. But the reality was the need for me to help out as an adult leader. I don’t have a wife or children that I need to spend time with. Right now, I’m called to be a foot soldier for Christ and serve wherever needed.
It was also amazing to see youth find themselves at the retreat, to find their own niche. As a teacher I was surprised on many levels.
One girl has a passion for public service; I can see her being a phenomenal lawyer or politician someday — standing up for moral issues. Another student blew me out of the water with his depth of character and intelligence. Two others have amazing wit, and are truly gifted in their ability to draw out the best in people. Even the card carrying Eagle Scout, who nearly smoked us out of our cabin the first night, displayed an uncanny gift for leading people.
These young men and women are the future church. And they all have a vocation to serve the church and our world in some capacity. It truly was a poignant reminder to me to realize the importance of praying for vocations not only to the priesthood and religious life, but also for all vocations and walks of life. The church has a need for all vocations, even peacocks.
Now excuse me while I go preen my feathers.
The writer is the assistant editor of the Catholic Anchor and teaches Theology and Math part-time at Lumen Christi High School.
Letters to the Editor
Non-Catholic comments on Mother Theresa
Although I am not Catholic, it’s hard not to notice the way our Lord worked through Mother Teresa.
In a recent "newsflash," the major networks, reported on a few letters she wrote. They were disturbing, for she was obviously in great doubt and had questions about her walk with God and her ministry. How could a woman of such great faith seem to take such a spiritual nosedive?
Well, we were not in her head during those times, and we would do well to withhold criticism.
The constant in-your-face death and personal agony of people she ministered to, the horror of forgotten, sick and dying lives began a journey where the enemy of our soul (our mind, will and emotions) — Satan himself — began a program of doubt, fear and ineffectiveness. This enlarged the scope of utter hopelessness on her mind. But this just shows that she was doing God’s will. So bless her.
Instead of quitting under that great burden and pressure, instead of going around and announcing it — she wrote it down privately (a sort of relief valve) and by faith in action, she continued her ministry.
No, this is not a mark against her, for she continued to be an example of God the Father’s love and compassion through Jesus.
I’m sure she was met in heaven with, "Well done my good and faithful servant." I don’t doubt her salvation through Christ — her work was because she was saved, not a way to earn it.
Anchorage