Ministering Update Diocese of Fairbanks - Mid-September 2017 - Volume 22 Number 6 St. Mark’s University Parish 40th Anniversary Inside: Safe Environment Photos from Clergy Days Faith & Family Formation ACCB Statement on DACA Seminarian Dinner Fundraiser ~ 1 ~ Bishop & Diocesan The Diocesan Mission Statement Calendar We are people of God in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks. Blessed with a rich variety of backgrounds and talents, we strive to be a September living reflection of the Universal Church. 15-17 Nulato, Interior Meeting Through our baptism we continue Christ’s mission to further the and Bishop parish visit kingdom of God through the human family. We share our living faith 18-21 Bishop to San Diego, CA, by proclaiming the Gospel in word and example. Together we celebrate for Mission Appeal Christ’s presence in worship and sacraments. 20 St. Andrew Dinner In a spirit of justice, mercy and love, we dedicate ourselves not 22-25 Bishop to Diocese of only to minister to the people in the urban and rural areas of our Diocese Oakland, CA, for Mission but also to minister to the world community. Appeal Sep 29 Bethel, AK, Rural Deacon - Oct 1 Retreat Diocese of Fairbanks Newsletter “Ministering” is a publication of the Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks which October serves northern and western Alaska. Its purpose is to provide a regular 1 Safe Sunday opportunity for all ministries throughout the Diocese to share information 2-4 Bishop visit to Stebbins, so that our tremendous diversity may enrich our common mission of AK service to the people of our Diocese. 4-6 Bishop visit to St. Michael, If you have questions or suggestions for articles, please contact AK David Schienle at the Chancery at (907) 374-9500 or [email protected]. 7-8 Bishop visit to Unalakleet, Newsletter prepared by David Schienle for Catholic Bishop of Northern AK Alaska. 10 Juneau, AK, Ordination of Fr. Andrew Bellisario Follow Us Online @ 13-14 Catholic Schools of Fairbanks, HIPOW Auction Diocese of Fairbanks Diocese of Fairbanks 21-24 Bishop visit to Diocese of Yakima, WA Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks dioceseoffairbanks.org WWW 25-27 Bishop visit to Mt. Angel Seminary, OR 28-31 Bishop to Dallas, TX, for Credits Mission Appeal Editor Contributors Proofreaders David Schienle Rev. Robert Fath Deb Leibee The Diocesan Online Calendar may Rev. Tom Kuffel Misty Mealey be viewed at: Misty Mealey Leigh Scarboro http://dioceseoffairbanks.org Leigh Scarboro Barb Tolliver Barbara Tolliver Rev. Ross Tozzi Bp. Chad Zielinski Patty Walter Cover Image: Deacon George Bowder leads the entrance procession to the 40th Anniversary Mass of St. Mark’s University Parish. Frs. Gerald Ornowski, Thomas Sagili, Kaspar Mallavarapu, and Jim Kolbe follow behind Deacon George. ~ 2 ~ Alaska Catholic Bishops Speak out on the Administration’s DACA Decision We, the Catholic bishops of Alaska, remain united in heart and mind with our brother bishops across this nation in condemning the Administration’s decision today to suspend DACA. At the same time, we stand in strong solidarity with the 800,000 people and their families who have been protected under this provision, and who have called this their country for the primary part of their lives. We as a nation are better than this, and Congress must now act to correct this inhumane disrespect of our brothers and sisters in the one family of God. These are not strangers living among us. They are students in our schools, people we see in the grocery store. They are the friends we have in our lives. America is their home. DACA recipients deserve a legislative path to a secure future. Immigrants are the backbone of our country. This has not changed in over 200 years. All people should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their immigration status. We as Church recognize the dignity of every human being created in the image and likeness of God. The USCCB issued the following statement: “The cancellation of the DACA program is reprehensible. It causes unnecessary fear for DACA youth and their families. These youth entered the U.S. as minors and often know America as their only home. The Catholic Church has long watched with pride and admiration as DACA youth live out their daily lives with hope and a determination to flourish and contribute to society: continuing to work and provide for their families, continuing to serve in the military, and continuing to receive an education. Now, after months of anxiety and fear about their futures, these brave young people face deportation. This decision is unacceptable and does not reflect who we are as Americans. The Church has recognized and proclaimed the need to welcome young people: ‘Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me’ (Mark 9:37). Today, our nation has done the opposite of how Scripture calls us to respond. It is a step back from Archdiocese of Anchorage * Diocese~ 3 ~of Fairbanks * Diocese of Juneau 225 Cordova Street * Anchorage, AK * 99501 907-297-7744 phone * 907-279-3885 fax the progress that we need to make as a country. Today’s actions represent a heartbreaking moment in our history that shows the absence of mercy and good will, and a short-sighted vision for the future. DACA youth are woven into the fabric of our country and of our Church, and are, by every social and human measure, American youth. We strongly urge Congress to act and immediately resume work toward a legislative solution. We pledge our support to work on finding an expeditious means of protection for DACA youth. As people of faith, we say to DACA youth – regardless of your immigration status, you are children of God and welcome in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church supports you and will advocate for you.” +Archbishop Paul D. Etienne +Bishop Chad Zielinski Archdiocese of Anchorage Diocese of Fairbanks Bishop Elect Andrew Bellisario, CM +Archbishop Emeritus Roger Schwietz, OMI Diocese of Juneau Archdiocese of Anchorage ~ 4 ~ Archdiocese of Anchorage * Diocese of Fairbanks * Diocese of Juneau 225 Cordova Street * Anchorage, AK * 99501 907-297-7744 phone * 907-279-3885 fax DIOCESE OF FAIRBANKS 1316 Peger Road ˖ Fairbanks, Alaska ˖ 99709 ˖ 907-374-9500 ˖ Fax: 907-374-9580 OFFICE OF THE BISHOP 9 August 2017 My Dear Sons and Daughters in Christ: With great joy, I share this first pastoral letter about the upcoming diocesan conference, “Families Fully Alive,” which will take place February 2018 in Fairbanks. It is a warm summer evening and I am sitting in my office reflecting on the two and a half years since I was called to be your bishop. Many emotions are running through my heart. Deep within me echo the words of Saint Augustine, when he became a bishop: “With you, I am a Christian; for you, I am a bishop.”1 There have been countless blessings (and multiple challenges) in my time as bishop, but since the beginning, you have welcomed me to walk with you on this pilgrimage of our beloved Diocese of Fairbanks. It seems as if it were yesterday when I awoke to the ringing from an unknown number, an unfamiliar voice at the other end giving me an even stranger message! Half-awake, I learned my life was about to change drastically. It was a call to a deeper level of commitment to my priestly vocation and I was humbled by what Pope Francis was entrusting to me: To become a bishop. But not just any bishop—a missionary bishop in northern Alaska, the largest diocesan territory in the United States, with parishioners from many different cultures. A great call, but at the same time, overwhelming. My thoughts raced towards heaven: “Thank you, Lord?” and “Your will be done.” Follow by, “But how am I going to do this?” Today, I reflect how God’s call can radically change our lives. We see during the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth that John the Baptist recognized his calling in the womb.2 Shortly after I was ordained a transitional deacon, my class was asked to give a homily on a scripture that had been influential in our vocational call. I had always been moved by the missionary passion and zeal of John the Baptist, so I gave a short reflection on “He must increase; I must decrease.”3 It is no surprise, then, that I also chose this verse as my Episcopal Motto. Then there was Saint Paul, who began by persecuting Christians, but through a divine call,4 came to understand that Christianity was actually the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and that Christ was the Messiah. It was this very real encounter with the Risen Christ that brought Paul to his knees and turned him into a missionary apostle. Nowadays, many of us find it hard to listen to God and hear His voice. We sometimes doubt His existence. Did God really create the universe and does He really care about us personally? To find these answers, we need to enter a sphere we call “mystery,” where we can see only part of the Truth. Our faith is a little like the universe--the more we learn, the more mysterious it becomes. My own experience has taught me that to understand God, I must get to know Him personally first–-I need to be in relationship with Him. I can’t just read a book about Him or listen to what others say. Our God communicates in a deeply relational way; He yearns to establish close, loving relationships with His children.