Volume 54 Number 3 Summer 2016

Transcription

1 Volume 54 Number 3 Summer 2016 Some give by going to the Missions Some go by giving to the Missions Without both there are no Missions Sacred Heart Cathedral As part of Sacred Heart Cathedral s 50th Anniversary celebration, a special Mass and luncheon were held which also honored Fr. John Hinsvark on his 50th Anniversary as a priest. Shown here left to right: Fr. Jim Falsey, Fr. Ross Tozzi, Fr. Bala Gangarapu, Fr. Stan Jaszek, Fr. John Hinsvark, Fr. Marek Szczur, Bishop Chad Zielinski, Fr. Kaspar Mallavarapu, and Fr. Joseph Hemmer, O.F.M. CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NORTHERN ALASKA 1312 PEGER ROAD FAIRBANKS, ALASKA Phone: Special Masses are offered throughout the year for you and your intentions by our Missionary Priests. Please pray that God may bless us and our work.

2 Editor s Note: Fr. Ross Tozzi celebrates 15 years a priest in For the date of his ordination to the priesthood, he chose July 14 th, a date he considered very special. In the homily he gave on the day after his ordination, he listed the reasons why he considered July 14 th so special. The day marked the 30 th anniversary of KNOM s going on the air. It was on July 14, 1947, that Fr. Bellarmine Lafortune, S.J., missionary for over 40 years to the people of Nome and to the Eskimos of the surrounding area and of King Island, collapsed at the altar in the old St. Joseph s Church while offering Mass. And, July 14 th is also the feast day of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Native American and patroness of ministries to Native Americans. So, it was on July 14, 200l, in the new St. Joseph s Church in Nome, that Ross A. Tozzi was ordained to the priesthood, for the Diocese of Fairbanks, by Francis T. Hurley, retired Archbishop of Anchorage. That ordination was a historic event. It was the first time ever that a man was ordained a Catholic priest in Nome. Special particularly to Fr. Ross as he had served as a Jesuit Volunteer at KNOM in the early 90s. Fr. Tozzi s first assignment as a priest was that of associate pastor to Fr. Patrick D. Bergquist, pastor of St. Raphael s parish, Fairbanks. As such, he served also occasionally as visiting priest to St. Patrick s parish in Barrow. In 2002, Fr. Tozzi was named pastor of St. Nicholas parish, in North Pole. In 2006, upon the retirement of Fr. John Hinsvark, Fr. Tozzi was assigned to replace him as Vocations Director. In the year 2009, Fr. Ross was assigned pastor of St. Joseph s Parish in Nome, and pastor of St. Francis Xavier s Parish, Kotzebue, St. Ann s Parish, Teller, and St. Jude s Parish, on Little Diomede Island. Fr. Tozzi s last day on Little Diomede Island, as its pastor, February Little Diomede Island 28, 2015, was also his last day serving as Vocations Director for the Diocese of Fairbanks, the position currently held by Fr. Robert Fath. Beginning April of 2015, Fr. Ross took a sabbatical. Upon his return, he assumed a new assignment as Vicar General of the Diocese and Rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral, in Fairbanks. Below, Fr. Ross shares some personal reflections leading up to the Cathedral s 50 th Anniversary celebration, in June. On Pentecost Sunday, I stood next to my parents in the first pew of Sacred Heart Cathedral looking up at Jesus on the Crucifix suspended high in the air. I reflected on the great trust the Lord was placing in me on the day of my ordination as a transitional deacon for the Diocese of Fairbanks. I viewed all my limitations and the Lord viewed all of my potential. Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt the tangible presence of our Lord. Fr. Ross Tozzi -- June 11, 2000 Little Diomede Island September 19, 2015 As the new rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral, I processed in for the Saturday evening Mass and knelt briefly at the foot of the altar looking up once again to the image of our crucified Lord hanging high on the cross. The tears from 16 years earlier and that same sense of awe and fear of the Lord came to heart and mind as I paused briefly before the start of celebrating my first Mass as rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral. The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 2 Summer Page 2

3 My days as rector of the cathedral parish are filled with many meetings. As a day ends, I feel there is more that needs to be done at the end of the day than there was at the start. I could easily lose my bearing were it not for the sacred moments of prayer, sacrament and encounter with the sheep that God and our good bishop have entrusted to me. November 4, 2015 Called to the hospital to anoint a critically ill patient. I prayed for a young man whose condition did not seem to be improving. Family members from near and far kept coming to see and to pray for him. When his heart stopped, the medical staff tried everything possible to revive him but finally had to admit defeat. The flurry of activity calmed, and all thought his heart had stopped for good. One nurse noticed a faint pulse, and the staff began to keep the heart going. The young man s mother arrived and let me know that her son was not baptized. With the simple formula of baptism and a cup of water I baptized the person just moments before his heart stopped for good. By the grace and mercy of God, a soul was saved that day. Tears of sorrow filled the hospital room... but, tears of joy were also shed for the promise of eternal salvation. December 29, 2015 Patricia Murphy has invited me to Raven Landing where seniors live in a caring environment. After being treated to dinner in the dining room, Patricia escorts me to six different apartments spread across several buildings on the campus. I am able to offer home blessings one at a time and to meet the Catholics who live here some from Sacred Heart Cathedral parish and others from neighboring parishes. Over the course of the Christmas Holydays, I will repeat these special blessings in the homes of half a dozen other parishioners who have opened their doors and their own sacred hearts to me. These one-on -one encounters nourish my soul and provide me with an opportunity to get to know the many families of the parish. March 26, 2016 With Bishop Chad Zielinski in Fairbanks for Holy Week, covering the Masses at the Cathedral, I have traveled to Chefornak to provide Masses for Holy Week and for Easter. Fr. Ted Kestler, S.J., visits here once every 6-8 weeks and has graciously allowed me to provide some ministry in the bush while he tends to other villages. The Easter Vigil begins at 10:30 PM, once the sun has set. The parishioners of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish fill the church and I am astounded that the building holds 185 people, counting too, those who stand or sit in the aisles. With that many people generating heat, the good people open the doors so the freezing temperatures outside can cool the building indoors. When I lock the church up past 1:00 AM on Easter morning, I imagine that everyone else throughout the Diocese has already laid their heads to rest in preparation for a busy Easter Sunday morning. March 29-31, 2016 I have landed in Bethel and can fly no further, as a volcanic eruption has altered and delayed my travel plans to return to Fairbanks... as well as all airplane passengers throughout the state. The Jesuits who serve the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region have gathered for some community days and they graciously welcome me into their days for prayer and reflection. This affords me a wonderful opportunity to learn from their fraternal sense of community so that I might host our own clergy days in Fairbanks five weeks later. June 2, 2016 With the help of Bishop Chad and six other concelebrating priests, Fr. John Hinsvark celebrates 50 years of ordination and service to the Diocese of Fairbanks. Our daily Mass, which would normally last half an hour, takes a full hour. A choir of beautiful voices sings throughout the Mass including the closing hymn, The Lord of the Dance, which ties into Fr. John s homily on how we must always let the Lord lead us in our ministry, which is our dance with the Lord. Eight and a half months have passed since I returned to the Interior to begin my pastoral duties at Sacred Heart Cathedral. I am still trying to learn and grow as a priest as I look up daily at the face of the crucified Jesus hanging high in the sanctuary of the Cathedral. His love and mercy and confidence are enduring as I try to keep up with one meeting after another and look for those sacred moments of encounter with the flock entrusted to my pastoral care. --Fr. Ross Tozzi The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 3 Summer Page 3

4 May 1962 Official groundbreaking ceremonies for the "Farthest North Cathedral," the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, took place in May 1962, at the corner of Airport Way and Peger Road, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Father James C. Spils, S.J., was the designer of the 55 x 170' building and the construction superintendent. The building was ready for its first Mass on April 3, 1966, and formally dedicated by the late Bishop Francis D. Gleeson, S.J., on June 17, Admittedly, with a seating capacity of only 550-the building is rather small for a cathedral. Nevertheless, it is rich in historical firsts and has witnessed some events of great significance. Though the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Parish is not a mission parish--being completely supported, as it is, by its parishioners it is in the Missionary Diocese of Fairbanks. In this diocese, it is the center of focus, a magnet drawing mission people from villages scattered far and wide throughout the diocese, and offering them a venue large enough to celebrate major milestones and accomplishments. It is the family home of the whole diocese. Four weekend Masses are celebrated in it on a given weekend; the Sacrament of Reconciliation every Saturday afternoon. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in it every Thursday and Saturday. The Rosary, led by a member of the Knights of Columbus, is prayed in it every First Friday. This "Farthest North Cathedral, this Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, is the warm heart of the entire diocese. Above: One of two stainedglass panels located at the camera. This Cathedral photo was taken prior to the Sorrowful Mother statue s,(donated by Robin Barrett) Above: A rainbow decorated Cathedral caught after a rain by Sister Dorothy Giloley, SSJ, and her trusty Cathedral s entry. The art relocation to the Cathedral s west side and the addition of a garden walkway. (The garden upgrade was made pieces were made and donated possible by a fundraising effort by the hospitality group and was relocated by Sacred Heart parishioners, Tim by Fr. Rob Fath s father, Bob Doval, Jim Villano, and Molly Eckert.) Fath. The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 3 Summer Page 4

5 The Cathedral s parishioners have a rich history of participation throughout these 50 years. Whether they are linked by the various volunteer organizations within the church or they find their association to the Cathedral to be a long standing family presence--the people are indeed the heart of the parish. Photos courtesy of Andy Angaiak, David Schienle and Sister Dorothy Giloley, SSJ Vonnie & Glen Baysinger Karen Malone & Mary Anne Laroe Drene Desrochers & Claire Desrochers Marie Harrington & Winnie Atwood Janice Dosch, Fr. Joe Hemmer, OFM, & Henry Dosch Ann Hagestead & Fr. Ross Tozzi at the Time Capsule Burial Bishop Chad Zielinski celebrates at the Anniversary Mass on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Rosalie L Ecuyer & Fr. Bala Gangarapu The Sacred Heart Youth Group gathers to pray with Fr. Ross at the Time Capsule Burial Bishop Chad Zielinski elevates the chalice at the Anniversary Mass on June 3, The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 3 Summer Page 5

6 A Sense of History Rosalie L Ecuyer By Robert Hannon commanding presence to fill any space with good humor. That day, he exercised his bonhomie and stature to edge through the throng for a front-and-center position at the barricade. As he negotiated his way forward, he drew Rosalie behind him, like a boat swept up in the wake of an ocean liner. She says the two of them were in the second or third row of observers when the Holy Father s jet touched down. It wasn t the first time Rosalie had seen the future saint in person. Five years earlier, she was working for the United States Department of Defense, in Maryland, when the pope arrived on his first visit to our country, less than a year after he was elected as pope. In fact, Rosalie s quarter-century service as a federal employee, working near Washington, D.C., gave her a good vantage point to observe some key moments in history. I was actually in the Washington, D.C., area when both Kennedys were killed. I was close enough to walk over and see their funeral cortèges. I did not go to St. Matthew s Cathedral. I had been a parishioner there for a couple of years. But on those occasions was living in Arlington, Virginia, near Arlington Cemetery, and I just walked to the Memorial Bridge and watched the cortèges enter the cemetery. Rosalie seems to have a keen sense of history, and perhaps it was that sensitivity that led her to be tapped to spearhead the Cathedral s 50th anniversary task force. The observances took place in early June this year. Rosalie does have some training in history; she received her B.A. in the subject from Regis College, in the Boston Archdiocese. (She later also received two graduate degrees: a Master s in Government from Georgetown University and a Master s in Professional Writing from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks). And, she can reel off many of the names of former priests who have served at the cathedral and point out parishioners who have been with the parish for decades. Indeed, Rosalie would like the celebrations to honor the many men and women who have stepped up to make the parish community as much a family as a group of worshipers. The role of the laity, particularly women, has grown so much since I was young. We have Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, for example, she says. Even the person who brings a cake to a celebration contributes to the parish family. Rosalie was born and raised in While many priests are called shepherds, Rosalie L Ecuyer got a firsthand experience of clerical shepherding when Pope St. John Paul II met President Ronald Reagan at the Fairbanks International Airport. It was May 2, 1984, and Rosalie recalls the day as gray and blustery with intermittent rain. Barricades had been assembled to corral the estimated five thousand spectators who had gathered to welcome the pope. President Reagan had arrived in Fairbanks the day before. Rosalie served the diocese as a volunteer in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region and she was in Fairbanks for medical care. She was staying on the diocese s campus at the Yellow Banana - an affectionate name for the building that would later become known as the House of Prayer. Among the others staying at the Yellow Banana was Fr. Chuck Peterson, S.J. Tall and ebullient, Fr. Chuck seemed capable of expanding his already The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 3 Summer Page 6

7 Boston, Massachusetts. She had two older sisters. One served as a lawyer in the Coast Guard, the other was a Navy Nurse. Her family was Catholic, but she attended public schools until Regis College, at the time, an all woman s school, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. As the time for graduation approached, she wasn t certain what she wanted to do for work. Then a government recruiter came to the campus and started her off on her 25-year service to the Department of Defense. Then, in the late 1970s, Rosalie says she felt the stirrings to volunteer for the Church. That calling, though, was a bit of a puzzle, literally. I felt I should serve in a region that started and ended in A, Rosalie says. I thought maybe Appalachia or Arizona. But I knew for certain it wasn t Alaska! That certainty began to dissolve when she watched a slide presentation by Fr. Gerald Ornowski, M.I,C., who described his work on Little Diomede Island and Bethel. Rosalie wrote to then Bishop Whelan, S.J. He replied encouraging her, but saying if she was serious, she would first have to become a Jesuit Volunteer. She had already enrolled in a two-year program in lay ministry with the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. So, she became a Jesuit Volunteer. Rosalie arrived in Bethel in mid-august, She says the Holy Spirit validated her choice in ministry when she saw Fr. Gerald Ornowski approach her on the tarmac with a big grin on his face. That day she also briefly met Fr. John Hinsvark, who was heading out the next day for a sabbatical. Perhaps another sign the Holy Spirit continues to work in Rosalie s life can be found in the fact that even as Sacred Heart Cathedral celebrates its dedication s 50th anniversary, it is also observing Fr. John Hinsvark s 50th anniversary as a Fairbanks diocesan priest. Rosalie eventually served some eight years in the Y-K, three of them in Bethel, but also four in Mountain Village, and a year in St. Marys, helping the diocese prepare the former boarding school for a transition to village ownership. She arrived in Fairbanks in 1988, and since that time has been an active member of Sacred Heart Cathedral. Fr. Ross Tozzi, the current Rector of the Cathedral, says of Rosalie, She has a keen eye for detail and a passion for making our history come alive. As part of the 50 th Anniversary celebration, the Cathedral s youth buried a time capsule, the staff and hospitality committee hosted a luncheon to honor and thank long-time parishioners, and two special Masses were celebrated. The first took place on Thursday afternoon, June 2, to celebrate Fr. John Hinsvark s fifty years as a priest. On Friday June 3, an anniversary Mass of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was celebrated by Bishop Zielinski, with other priests joining as concelebrants. A potluck followed the Mass, finishing up the three-day observances. Rosalie belongs to the Cathedral s Hospitality Group, the Liturgy Ministry, is a Stephen Minister, and belongs also to the Associates of St. Joseph, many of whom are featured here, at the Associates 2015 Mass of Renewal and Commitment, with Bishop Chad Zielinski. The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 3 Summer Page 7

8 Sister Dorothy Giloley, S.S.J. Returns to Mount Saint Joseph Convent I always wanted to be a missionary and have been able to serve the poor in the inner city; the poor in West Virginia, and the Native people in our missions within the Diocese of Fairbanks the largest and most remote diocese, geographically, in the USA. I have loved my Mission and ministry in the last frontier!--sr. Dorothy After serving fifteen years in the Alaskan Missions, Sister Dorothy has returned to the Mother House of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Philadelphia, while she looks for a new ministry on the east coast. During her time in Fairbanks, Sister Dorothy served as Director of Religious Education. She traveled to thirteen mission churches in the Native Villages in western and northern Alaska. Sister also served the nine road parishes, which are the ones that can be driven to the remaining (37) must be flown to, by small plane. Sister Dorothy has two brothers, John and Joe, and a sister Mary Anne. John lives in Pennsylvania, Joe lives in Maryland, and Mary Anne lives in Colorado. In her 53 years as a Sister of St. Joseph, she has ministered in 16 missions in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia and Alaska. Her ministries include serving as a teacher in grade schools, a DRE, a pastoral associate, a youth minister and a campus minister. She served as a DRE, in Anchorage, and as a pastoral minister in two Native villages on the Yukon River, in Southwest Alaska. She received her B.A., in History from Chestnut Hill College, her M.A., in Religious Education from La Salle University, and an M.S., in Counseling from Villanova University. Sister s favorite hobby is photography. She is well-known for her contributions of photos to the diocese s archives. A gifted pianist, she uses her musical talents to assist with keyboard accompaniment at Masses and she has taught music to children in the villages. She sponsored many summer vacation bible schools in the villages and she was an avid supporter and procurer of items for Easter in the Bush and Christmas in the Bush sending a multitude of donated gifts and supplies from benefactors to the village children, seniors, and people in need. Additionally, she helped organize and lead the Associates of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Fairbanks, a group that was founded in 1988, by Sister Marita Soucy, C.S.J., in Fairbanks. One of her favorite Alaskan places was Denali National Park where her camera lens captured photos of moose, bears, wolves, caribou, and many birds and floral species. Many of these photos were made into cards, which she gave as gifts to her colleagues and friends. Sister Dorothy will greatly miss the land and people of Alaska and she will be greatly missed by all especially her caring heart and generous soul. At her farewell Mass on June 11, Sister Dorothy addressed her colleagues and friends with this adaptation of Wherever You Go by the Benedictine Monks of Weston Priory: I want to say something to all of you who have become a part of the fabric of my life. The color and texture which you have brought into my being have become a song, and I want to sing it forever. There is an energy in us which makes things happen when the paths of other persons touch ours and we have to be there and let it happen. When the time of our particular sunset comes our thing, our accomplishment, won t really matter a great deal. But the clarity and care with which we have loved others will speak with vitality of the great gift of life we have been for each other. Thank you for being one of those persons in my life! --Sister Dorothy The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 3 Summer Page 8

9 Have you heard about the SEMINARIAN ENDOWMENT CHALLENGE? The Diocese of Fairbanks has partnered with Catholic Extension in an effort to build a special matching grant that will help us to build a permanent endowment that can be stewarded and retained for years to come. The income from this endowment will support the cost of seminarian education in the Diocese of Fairbanks. Qualifying donations must be new or increased gifts of $1,000 or more, or raised through special fund-raising events designated for the program. Catholic Extension will match each $1,000 gift up to $50,000. Bishop Chad Zielinski has set our goal at $100,000 this first year. We are past the halfway mark. What is the process for accepting seminarians? Seminarians are accepted through a lengthy and thorough process conducted by our Vocations Director, Fr. Robert Fath and by Bishop Chad Zielinski. It includes a psychological test, background check, medical evaluation, and multiple conversations to assist men discerning this vocation. Candidates must be practicing Catholics who have completed their sacraments and have a high school diploma. A college degree is preferred. What expenses are seminarians responsible for paying? Though many seminarians families can and do contribute very generously to their Thank You! personal expenses, most seminarians come from families of very modest incomes. The average cost of educating and forming a seminarian in our diocese is $40,000, per year. Their expenses include everything from tuition, room and board to books, stipends and health insurance. How do we promote new priest vocations in the Diocese of Fairbanks? We strive to make personal contact multiple ways, including in-person, phone, and and through social media. Bishop Chad and Father Robert visit schools, parishes, and campus ministries to talk about vocations. The best advocates for promoting vocations are parents. Contact us below for more information regarding Vocations or the Seminarian Endowment Challenge: Vocations: Contact: Fr. Robert Fath DiocesanVocations Director fairbanksvocations@cbna.info Seminarian Endowment: Contact: Teresa Chepoda-Usibelli Office of Stewardship and Development teresa@cbna.org The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 3 Summer Page 9

10 Thank you for your gifts that help maintain our Mission Programs! Dear Bishop Zielinski, Date F01 S I want to help you and the missionaries ministering in Northern Alaska to bring the Mass, the Sacraments, religious education, and training to the widely-scattered Indian and Eskimo people of Christ. Please accept this donation to your General Fund and use it where most needed. AMOUNT OF GIFT: $15 $25 $50 $100 $250 Other$ Name Street No. P.O.Box City State Zip If donating by check, please make payable to: CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NORTHERN ALASKA or CBNA If donating by credit card: NAME AS IT APPEARS ON CREDIT CARD: TYPE OF CARD (Visa, Master Card or Discover Cards only): VISA MASTER CARD DISCOVER One Time Only:( ) Monthly:( ) Quarterly:( ) Twice A Year: ( ) Annually:( ) CREDIT CARD NUMBER: (Strictly confidential): EXP DATE: PHONE: SIGNATURE: CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NORTHERN ALASKA/CBNA/1312 PEGER ROAD*FAIRBANKS, AK*99709 CLIPPING BOX TOPS IS A GREAT WAY TO HELP THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OF FAIRBANKS! LAST YEAR: Box Tops for Education paid our school $9, Please save and clip Box Tops over the summer months! We are accepting all Box Tops with expiration dates of August 2016 (and later) for our first submission in September. Thank you Alaskan Shepherd Benefactors! Prefer a digital copy? Subscribe to The Alaskan Shepherd electronically by visiting: * com/find/diocese-offairbanks *Choose Subscribe under RECENT PUBLICATIONS Find us under Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks and Like us! We ve updated our webpage! Visit: dioceseoffairbanks.org The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 3 Summer Page 10

11 Ben Doudna Fairbanks, Alaska MEET OUR SEMINARIANS Ben Continued...young men who were serious about the priesthood. I was determined to do everything I could to make sure I was living God s plan for my life over any alternate plan of my own. The peace that comes from following God s Will is definitely worth it. Over the next three and a half years, I delved more deeply into classes and prayer, had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Austria for a semester, finished my undergraduate work at Franciscan University, and worked through the year to pay for it all. I graduated from Franciscan University in December I currently live with the priests at the Kobuk Center, while I continue the process of formation and as I work to pay off loans from college. I am preparing to enter Mount Angel Seminary, in the fall. It is a blessed journey. --Ben Conor Continued...means until they come here and see it for themselves. My vocation story begins when I was in the seventh grade. While I was altar serving, the priest looked at me and asked if I had ever thought about the priesthood. I answered, Yes. I believe that the Holy Spirit answered through me in that moment and started me thinking about the priesthood. At 19, I entered the seminarian program for the Archdiocese of Seattle and was enrolled at Mount Angel Seminary. While there, I saw a poster advertising a mission trip to the Diocese of Fairbanks. I was so excited about the idea of serving in Alaska. This past year I traveled with Fr. Jim Falsey to the village of Koyukuk where I had the chance to explore and discover the missions. The people of Koyukuk live a subsistence lifestyle; they hunt and gather their food. They have a great respect for the land and the food it supplies. The Native peoples have a great love and spirituality that is beautiful and very different. This diocese has sky-piercing mountains, forests full of life, farreaching tundra landscape, rivers full of fish, and oceans filled with sea life. Here, I find that I can connect with God very well and be immersed in His creation. The thought of living in Alaska and serving within the Diocese of Fairbanks can be a daunting thought. But, now that I have come here, I hope I will spend my life serving the Missionary Diocese of Fairbanks. If you have the slightest thought about serving in Alaska--love the idea of the wilderness and of the last frontier- -don t be afraid to dig more deeply into your vocation and discover your passion. The diocese is nearly 410,000 square miles large. We have room. --Conor My name is Ben Doudna. I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. Most of my years were spent homeschooling which allowed me the opportunity to study and to also enjoy all the wonderful opportunities that Alaska has to offer throughout the year hiking, hunting, and fishing, to name a few. I started working from a young age mowing lawns, hoping to save up money for my college education. I worked at a local greenhouse and eventually ended up working full time in my dad s business, Northern Sled Works, Inc. My journey towards the priesthood began in 2002, during the Chrism Mass. I saw the priests stand to renew their promises to the bishop and join with him in consecrating the Holy Eucharist, and I thought to myself, Conor Baer I think God wants me to do that. Snohomish, Washington After graduation, I decided to attend Franciscan University My name is Conor Baer. I am from the of Steubenville, in Ohio. I joined a Archdiocese of Seattle and I grew up in Priestly Discernment Program, which the town of Snohomish, Washington. helped me to grow in my spiritual life Before I came here, I had a perception of and to have an awareness of God s what Alaska would be like. But, no one voice in my life. It also gave me can really understand what living and courage, simply by witnessing other serving in the Alaskan missions truly ~Seminarian Photos by JR Ancheta~ The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 3 Summer Page 11

12 MEET OUR SEMINARIANS Continued Fredrick Granheim Finnsnes, Norway This diocese gives missionaries the opportunity to experience a good mixture of both a contemplative lifestyle and the more social parish life. You can minister within the more busy parishes in the city and in the remote and smaller parishes in the bush, which are only accessible by snowmachine, boat, airplane or helicopter. For someone like me, who has a huge interest in nature and the outdoors, this is like a foretaste of paradise with the great wilderness and nature at my doorstep. If you add to that the famous northern lights of the Arctic, the midnight sun, and the polar night-- it is indeed paradise. God is always with you and the people here are very friendly, welcoming, and helpful. I am pretty sure that the grand display of nature and wilderness here on the top of the world is just a preview of our Lord s Heavenly Kingdom. If life as a priest is God s will, then my response will be Yes! I am looking forward to serving in the diocese of Fairbanks for God and for his people. --Fredrick My name is Fredrick Granheim; I have just completed three years of studies at St. John s Seminary, in Wonersh, England. Originally, I am from the border area that divides Norway and Sweden. This September, I begin a year of pastoral placement before continuing my final years at the seminary. If it is God s will, I will be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fairbanks. Since I was very small, I have felt drawn to the arctic; so it was natural for me to move to the far northern part of Scandinavia for college and work there once I graduated. I earned a degree in Linguistics and Finnish Language. Before I became a seminarian, I worked as an IT-technician. When I was a child, attending Mass, I knew somewhere inside myself, that one day I would be considering a life as a priest. Still, it would take me nearly 30 years before the thought had grown so large that I no longer could ignore it and I had to seriously admit that the priesthood might be something that I was called to do. The Alaskan Shepherd Newsletter Volume 54 Number 3 Summer Page 12