Holy Family Cathedral Visitation: CANCELED

Holy Family Cathedral Parish in Anchorage, Alaska will no longer be receiving a VISITATION.

Yes, it is canceled. I have received SEVERAL messages in various forms, from very reliable people that this is the case, so I feel confident in posting it.

Apparently the Archbishop has canceled the visitation, and the process of moving forward and the reunification of hearts and minds can begin.

This is not a sign that prayer can, or should, cease, instead it is a sign that the hard work has just begun.

I am sure that there will be and OFFICIAL notice of some type sent out by the Archbishop in the coming days. Until then, and especially once the full picture is before us, I urge everyone to remain charitable and prayerful in their response to any information that comes forward.

Pride and ego should not rule the day, but instead we should be humble and grateful that God was able to conform the hearts and minds of many to HIS WILL. There will still be a need for many people to do likewise, and to turn their hearts and faces towards God in an effort fulfill His will and not their own.

Deo Gratias!

HFC Rosary - a time of unity and prayer.

***UPDATE*** (4:30ak):
I don't want to spread rumors, as I have mentioned several times in previous posts: rumors are hurtful and uncharitable at any time and especially in this situation, but I have been asked to let my readers know that the fruits of the Rosary that was prayed by parishioners of HFC last night, have already begun to show.

Therefore, everyone is urged to continue their unrelenting prayer in support of HFC Parish. Organizers of last nights Rosary wanted to thank everyone for their commitment and support of the Cathedral Parish Community, the Archbishop, the Dominicans and Holy Mother Church.
***   ***   ***   ***   ***

I have been told over 100 people joined together for the Rosary that was prayed at Holy Family Cathedral last night. That is a humble and powerful amount of people joining together, under the banner of Our Lady's Crown of Roses.

As I stated in my post the other day, the Rosary is a weapon, and when it is used in a manner that unites and draws into the heart of Our Lady and Our Lord, it fulfills its purpose and we fulfill our calling. I am glad to see that people are doing good prayer as well as good works in an effort to live out true authentic Catholic life.

Ora et Labora.

A group Rosary is great. Hopefully the requirements for indulgences were conducted, and hopefully the contemplative prayer of the faithful bring them closer to the will of God.

Regular prayer and regular works must continue for the HFC Parish community. PRAYER, FASTING, and ALMSGIVING must be the battle cry of the faithful as we storm heaven with our intentions. Catholic life is not a passive lifestyle. We are called to be spiritual warriors.

Continue to pray for HFC, the Dominicans, and the Archbishop. Think about committing yourself to regular prayer for Archbishop Schweitz and other Bishops: ROSARY FOR THE BISHOP

A Restatement

It has come to my attention that I need clarify my position on the Holy Family Cathedral situation. Last night at my house, we recited the Rosary with over 20 faithful. One of our main intentions was the Holy Family Cathedral Parish, the Archbishop, and the Dominicans. After a night of prayer and contemplation, I have come to the realization that my clarification can best be done by restating what I have already said.

Therefore the following are unedited  portions of my previous posts on the subject. From the beginning I have been fully supportive of the Archbishop, his call for a visitation, and the process and method in which it is occurring. I have also stressed the need for prayer and unity. There are a few that feel that I have said otherwise... and for their sake, and others, I wish to re-post my previous statements:

First and foremost, we must pray. We must pray, fast, and do penance. We are not worthy to receive Him, but He only says the Word and we are healed. Personally, I am placing this issue up high on my intentions list for Holy Hour tonight. I suggest that you do something similar. Whether it be a day fast, a Holy Hour, or a Daily Mass offering... we must center ourselves on God. Only through him are things possible... without Him the pursuit is pointless.

Next, this process, the visitation, is not intended to be nor is it canonically a "democratic process." As the Archbishop states,

"The current situation involves the staff of the parish and the visitation will be primarily with them. It is not intended as a process that will involve the whole parish."

Although the catalyst for this situation is more than likely a group of faithful that presented petitions [eg complaints?] to the Archbishop, he is doing the right thing and not making this a "popularity contest." The Church is hierarchical, and it must be run according to Canon Law.

Thirdly, Alaska is very much set apart from the rest of the country. What I mean when I say that is, that although there is a continuity of the Bishops, clergy, and hierarchy here as it is anywhere, there is still a Catholic-Cultural element to the parish life of the Alaskan Catholic Church that is unique and distinct. As is true with other Alaskan things, there is a sense of self-reliance and particular ideas that attach themselves to the hearts and minds of the parishioners of Alaskan Catholics. That is, people come to Alaska or are here for a reason and the mindset of the people is particular to this area and permeates to all facets of life. It is correct and honest to say, that parishes in the Archdiocese of Anchorage as very unlike those in the lower 48. As someone that grew up in the dioceses of the lower 48, I bring to my statements a different perspective than many Alaskans; this is contextual statement and not one establishing authority or expertise.

Finally, the Dominicans are a religious order. They have been entrusted to run not only an diocesan parish, but the Cathedral parish, that is a the Metropolitan seat at that. This is a big task, and one that is unique, and in the very least uncommon. Religious orders bring to the table their own unique charisms and hierarchy. This is not to say they aren't "made" for diocesan life. In fact, many parishes that are ORDER run, are in fact the most vibrant in a diocese. Yet, it does add a unique flavor to this situation, that must be considered when evaluating the overall situation.

...

Now, it is very possible that the complaints that have required the Archbishop to institute the visitation are well founded and are true regardless of the "state of the parish." That being said, HFC seems like a parish most of the rest of us in the Archdiocese would love to have. Sure there are problems in every parish. If you look around the Archdiocese there are lots of parishes that have deficiencies. There are parishes millions of dollars in debt, churches that are lacking in material needs, parishes without priests, parishes that are lead by lay persons, and parishes that have little or no substantial ministries or apostolates.

As I said earlier, I want to proceed here carefully, so I want to reiterate that I am not casting judgment on the situation through my comments; more plainly, I am not inferring that I think that the Dominicans are "innocent" or "guilty." I am only making statements to the state of the parish from an outsiders point of view. As someone that goes to a parish without a canonical pastor, I would welcome a religious order coming in and establishing a more rigid and orthodox parish life. I would also welcome the ministry and apostolates that often are part of Order lead parishes. It is difficult for someone like myself, that longs for a vibrant parish life to see a place that seems so full of life, promise, and spiritual vitality to be calling into question the means that are providing those things. Yet, it is unclear what the underlying issues are, and the genesis of this situation.

In the meantime, Holy Family Cathedral needs to unite around Christ and not divide over this issue. Hearts and emotions will be bared in all of this, and the faithful need to be mindful that we must try and get one another to become Saints, and not do so for ourselves, at the expense of our neighbor. That being said, this situation can blossom many fruits, if the parishioners choose to unite over the issue, as opposed to draw lines in the sand, and pick sides. This doesn't mean conceding Catholic Dogma, for personal preference, but it means a thorough examination of ones heart and actions to ensure that they are in line with the Will and Commands of God.

Hopefully, at the end of this process, which from the Archbishop's letter appears to be sometime near the end of August, we will have clarity on the issues at Holy Family Cathedral. It would be a shame to see them "go" because of all the wonderful fruits that they have brought to their parish and the diocese as a whole. It is very unclear what plan of action is slated to occur if hard decisions are required, but if they need an area to place the Dominicans, the Peninsula can always use more priests. That being said, I want to go back to what I said early on in all of this. I am not trying to pass judgment - for or against them. I think the the Archbishop is taking appropriate steps, basing this statement on the information I have seen, and pray that he and the others involved in the visitation will prayerfully come to the best decision for the Bride of Christ, His Church at Holy Family Cathedral.

In closing, remember that our jobs in all of this is to be good members of the Church Militant. That means we should adhere to the 3 Eminent Good Works of PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING. Do not give way to rumor mongering, hearsay, or "stories." There will be much that is said in the following days about this, and the best we can do, is all that we can... and that is to live our lives as good Catholics, with all that it entails.

I was going to "Restate" what I felt about the situation, but this says it all. I have edited this in no way, and have only added emphasis. I did take down two other posts, because they created confusion, and for those that they confused I am truly sorry, it was never my intention.

Some Updates:

Ora et Labora
Join the HFC Parish in the recitation of the:

 Rosary at 6pm this Thursday at the Cathedral.

The faithful will gather to join in unity of prayer for the intention of their parish, our Archbishop, the Dominicans, and the parishioners.

PACK THE CATHEDRAL! Those of us local on the Peninsula joined together to recite the Rosary last night, and between those that joined us physically, and those reciting in their own homes we had over 30 participants. I want to hear that Thursday night, the Cathedral had triple that!
...

Finally, moving forward, I am going to focus less on this issue, mainly because I have said all that I think I have needed to. This blog wasn't started to focus on HFC, and so that will not be my main focus.

This blog was started because there are those of us that face attack. Pope Benedict XVI in his inauguration to the pontificate homily said:

Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves. Let us pray for one another, that the Lord will carry us and that we will learn to carry one another.

I pray daily that God gives me the strength to carry myself and at least one other. Sometimes I take on too much, contrary to what God calls of me... and I stumble. I look for my "Simon of Cyrene" and carry on.

Please continue to pray for the Archbishop. You can find the link to Rosary for the Bishop on the left sidebar.
Please continue to pray for the Dominicans.
Please continue to pray for Holy Family Cathedral.
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If you have anything left... pray for me.

Saint Michael - Ora Pro Nobis.

Hurt, Rosary, and Hope

I am hurt. I am hurt by my own actions, the actions of others, and the depravity that is sin.
What hurts the most is that my words have been taken to mean something that they clearly state that they are not.

I am not blameless, nor is anyone else. But for the Grace of God...

I want to remind everyone of something from my first major post about the HFC situation. I wrote the following as my concluding thought:

In closing, remember that our jobs in all of this is to be good members of the Church Militant. That means we should adhere to the 3 Eminent Good Works of PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING. Do not give way to rumor mongering, hearsay, or "stories." There will be much that is said in the following days about this, and the best we can do, is all that we can... and that is to live our lives as good Catholics, with all that it entails.

I can't say it any other way... Everything I TRULY believe and mean is said in those words. Have I said things that may have stirred emotions or feelings? I don't know, that wasn't my intention and I said so. Maybe people didn't read it? Either way... I have been accused of being divisive, while the whole time I have preached for unity... so clearly in the realm of Ora et Labora I am somehow messing up the "works" portion.

For that reason I am adding HFC & the BISHOP to the list of intentions we have for a Rosary and Dinner that we are having at our place tonight. I ask all of my Kenai Readers, to join me. Amongst our petitions will be the safe and successful surgery of a parishioner who is in the lower 48 for surgery, tomorrow. As well, we will be praying for Sister Claudia, and her situation that I mentioned yesterday.

All are welcome at our Dinner and Rosary tonight, and if you are in the area, please contact me for more details.

Thoughts on the visitation of the Dominicans at Holy Family Cathedral

After praying and thinking about the situation at Holy Family Cathedral, one thought has stuck in my heart and mind as I have mulled over what to post about this situation in an editorial sense. That thought is that it is clear that there is a group of folks that are unhappy with their pastor, Father Francis Le, and possibly the other Dominicans. I gather this from the fact that the Archbishop said in his letter,

"Over the course of time bishops are told lots of things about pastors by many people. Some of these concerns can be dealt with on an individual basis. Some are simply differences in style or opinion. Many lack any basis in fact. However there are occasions when enough concern is expressed on a wide basis that a systematic review is in order so that a proper and informed response might be made." [Emphasis mine]

As an outsider, I may have no business even commenting on this situation. My only role, if it should even be that, might be restricted to purely objective posting of the information that I receive regarding this issue. Yet, as I have spoken to folks from Anchorage on "both sides" of this issue and been asked my "opinion of things," I realize that an outside perspective in some regards may actually be helpful. That is, in regards to putting forth some clarity on issues that have become nuanced and seen with "tunnel vision." That being said, my offering comes with quite a few qualifications and caveats.

First and foremost, we must pray. We must pray, fast, and do penance. We are not worthy to receive Him, but He only says the Word and we are healed. Personally, I am placing this issue up high on my intentions list for Holy Hour tonight. I suggest that you do something similar. Whether it be a day fast, a Holy Hour, or a Daily Mass offering... we must center ourselves on God. Only through him are things possible... without Him the pursuit is pointless.

Next, this process, the visitation, is not intended to be nor is it canonically a "democratic process." As the Archbishop states,

"The current situation involves the staff of the parish and the visitation will be primarily with them. It is not intended as a process that will involve the whole parish."

Although the catalyst for this situation is more than likely a group of faithful that presented petitions [eg complaints?] to the Archbishop, he is doing the right thing and not making this a "popularity contest." The Church is hierarchical, and it must be run according to Canon Law.

Thirdly, Alaska is very much set apart from the rest of the country. What I mean when I say that is, that although there is a continuity of the Bishops, clergy, and hierarchy here as it is anywhere, there is still a Catholic-Cultural element to the parish life of the Alaskan Catholic Church that is unique and distinct. As is true with other Alaskan things, there is a sense of self-reliance and particular ideas that attach themselves to the hearts and minds of the parishioners of Alaskan Catholics. That is, people come to Alaska or are here for a reason and the mindset of the people is particular to this area and permeates to all facets of life. It is correct and honest to say, that parishes in the Archdiocese of Anchorage as very unlike those in the lower 48. As someone that grew up in the dioceses of the lower 48, I bring to my statements a different perspective than many Alaskans; this is contextual statement and not one establishing authority or expertise.

Finally, the Dominicans are a religious order. They have been entrusted to run not only an diocesan parish, but the Cathedral parish, that is a the Metropolitan seat at that. This is a big task, and one that is unique, and in the very least uncommon. Religious orders bring to the table their own unique charisms and hierarchy. This is not to say they aren't "made" for diocesan life. In fact, many parishes that are ORDER run, are in fact the most vibrant in a diocese. Yet, it does add a unique flavor to this situation, that must be considered when evaluating the overall situation.

~][~][~][~

Having listed my caveats and qualifications to the opinion I am about to write, I wish to proceed carefully and with a specific purpose in mind. That purpose is one of explanation and observation. Because I am not a parishioner, I am not privy to the inner workings and daily life at HFC. So the best I can do, is explain how I see the parish, from my perspective as a Catholic, in the same Archdiocese, but in a region that is very, very different from that of Anchorage.

As an outsider, HFC Parish appears to be an "ideal" parish. Multiple Masses in multiple Rites [Forms]. A Pastor, associate priests, and various religious. There are a ton of ministries, apostolates, and groups that "feed" the faithful in a multitude of ways. The prayer and spiritual life of the parish seem to be on fire and full of opportunity. All ages are ministered to, and there seems to be a healthy collection of both "traditional" Catholics and more "modern" Catholics. There is a new parish "Center" and bookstore, a world class Music Director, and an outstanding school, Holy Rosary Academy, that are all "centered" out of HFC. [I need to correct this part, I was under the impression that HRA used HFC as its "Church" since coming under the auspice of the AOA, that is not the case. I apologize for the confusion.] Not only the Novus Ordo is celebrated, but the N.O. in Spanish, the Dominican Rite, Tridentine Rite, have all been recently celebrated at the Cathedral, thanks to the Dominican priests. The ministries are overflowing; Knights of Columbus, Youth Group, Young Adults, Womens group, Theology & Brew, and the Dominican Forum are just some of the groups that regularly hold events. Add to this DAILY CONFESSION and TWICE DAILY MASS, and you have the APPEARANCE of an amazing Catholic Parish.

Now, it is very possible that the complaints that have required the Archbishop to institute the visitation are well founded and are true regardless of the "state of the parish." That being said, HFC seems like a parish most of the rest of us in the Archdiocese would love to have. Sure there are problems in every parish. If you look around the Archdiocese there are lots of parishes that have deficiencies. There are parishes millions of dollars in debt, churches that are lacking in material needs, parishes without priests, parishes that are lead by lay persons, and parishes that have little or no substantial ministries or apostolates.

As I said earlier, I want to proceed here carefully, so I want to reiterate that I am not casting judgment on the situation through my comments; more plainly, I am not inferring that I think that the Dominicans are "innocent" or "guilty." I am only making statements to the state of the parish from an outsiders point of view. As someone that goes to a parish without a canonical pastor, I would welcome a religious order coming in and establishing a more rigid and orthodox parish life. I would also welcome the ministry and apostolates that often are part of Order lead parishes. It is difficult for someone like myself, that longs for a vibrant parish life to see a place that seems so full of life, promise, and spiritual vitality to be calling into question the means that are providing those things. Yet, it is unclear what the underlying issues are, and the genesis of this situation.

In the meantime, Holy Family Cathedral needs to unite around Christ and not divide over this issue. Hearts and emotions will be bared in all of this, and the faithful need to be mindful that we must try and get one another to become Saints, and not do so for ourselves, at the expense of our neighbor. That being said, this situation can blossom many fruits, if the parishioners choose to unite over the issue, as opposed to draw lines in the sand, and pick sides. This doesn't mean conceding Catholic Dogma, for personal preference, but it means a thorough examination of ones heart and actions to ensure that they are in line with the Will and Commands of God.

Hopefully, at the end of this process, which from the Archbishop's letter appears to be sometime near the end of August, we will have clarity on the issues at Holy Family Cathedral. It would be a shame to see them "go" because of all the wonderful fruits that they have brought to their parish and the diocese as a whole. It is very unclear what plan of action is slated to occur if hard decisions are required, but if they need an area to place the Dominicans, the Peninsula can always use more priests. That being said, I want to go back to what I said early on in all of this. I am not trying to pass judgment - for or against them. I think the the Archbishop is taking appropriate steps, basing this statement on the information I have seen, and pray that he and the others involved in the visitation will prayerfully come to the best decision for the Bride of Christ, His Church at Holy Family Cathedral.

In closing, remember that our jobs in all of this is to be good members of the Church Militant. That means we should adhere to the 3 Eminent Good Works of  PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING. Do not give way to rumor mongering, hearsay, or "stories." There will be much that is said in the following days about this, and the best we can do, is all that we can... and that is to live our lives as good Catholics, with all that it entails.

It's Official: Dominicans at HFC will receive a 'Visitation'

For those needing to catch up with a situation that we are following concerning the parish of Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage, Alaska please read these posts:

• Follow Up: Holy Family Cathedral
• Pray for Fr. Francis Le - Holy Family Cathedral, Anchorage, Alaska

Late last night we received the letter that was sent to parishioners of Holy Family Cathedral. We are comfortable posting it because it is both a public document, and the best "evidence" we have to help present this ongoing situation in a transparent and factual way.

I plan on providing more information later, but I wanted to get this letter out there, in an effort to make sure the presentation of this issue is done properly and with transparency on the blog. Because we are not members of the parish, we view our role as a presenter of information, and to commit to prayer over the process. That being said, we also are part of the Church Militant, and understand our unique and privileged position as a voice in the public arena and will not refrain from defending the faith in this matter.

To ease our Alaskan readers on this issue, in terms of accessing the posts we make on this issue, I have "labeled" all the posts regarding HFC with the tag: "HFC - Anchorage", so you can easily search and find posts relating to the parish and this issue.

Follow Up: Holy Family Cathedral, Anchorage & Father Francis Le

Writing about "church rumors" is always a precarious situation. Church "news" and breaking stories aren't like secular news. For one, the secretive and private nature of many of the happenings that occur in our faith is part of the "Catholic World." On top of that, there is always the fear of SCANDAL [See Note {1} below].

Before reading this post, to familiarize yourself with this situation please see my other post:

Pray for Father Francis Le of Holy Family Cathedral, Anchorage Alaska

First, a warning/caveat: Fearing that, and praying against it, I must update you on some more information that I have received. I pray that this info is honest and true, and I do believe it to be such, but because much of this is coming to me second hand there is the possibility that there is "more to this story." That being said, I weighed all the ramifications and realized that because I know enough Alaskan Catholics read this blog, I need to get this out there, if for no other reason than prayer.

Almost every other Archdiocese in the country, save Alaska, has at least one or two blogs that cover Church info... we are in the unenviable position that we have an Alaskan Catholic Blog, that at least some Alaskan Catholics read. Therefore, we are sort of the default source for such info. This isn't about blog hits, or gossip mongering, this is about prayer, fortification of our faith, and the ramifications that attach to the souls of the faithful. We take our faith seriously here at Defend Us in Battle.

Now to the "news":

The information that I have received is that Archbishop Schweitz has sent a letter to all Holy Family Cathedral parishioners concerning Father Francis Le. It does not mention specifics but alludes to the idea that changes are coming, and coming soon. What those changes will be, and why they will be occurring are apparently rather cryptic. This isn't the 1st time that this situation has occurred, in fact

Again, the number one thing we can do is pray. Rosaries are weapons, and the prayers are our Battle Cry. Should this involve Satan, his powers or principalities... our weapon is prayer. Beyond that, there is little that we SHOULD do as of right now. At some point, calls, letters, and emails to the Bishop may be required, but those are action items that are a serious step, and I honestly don't think we have enough info yet.

From the little bits and pieces of info that I have, there seems to have been a group that opposed the way that Father Francis Le "did things" at HFC. Again, not judging this more than to say, he needs our prayers, as do all priests. Being the Pastor of a parish is a mission that is hard, very hard. People don't realize how hard it is, and often don't support their priests, through prayer or other means, consistent with amount of difficulty they endure to run the parish. Therefore, Father Le, and all priests need our support.

Likewise, Archbishop Schweitz needs our prayers. Managing these situations is very hard, and very sensitive. The souls and path to salvation rest with the Sheppard of the diocese. Wolves are circling; in both the secular realm, and within the walls of the faith there are those set on bringing down those that are contrary to their belief and comfort system. Pray that he does not what is most popular, most expedient, or the most pacifying, but pray that he makes the right decision based on the precepts and teachings of the faith. Pray that he walks in step with what the Apostles, Saints and Martyrs would do. For it is through their lives, that we see the fully human reflection of Jesus in action.

As a parting note... I will continue to update this story, as I gain more information. I am trying to get my hands on the letter that has been sent to the parishioners, as to gleam a little more information. Again, the best we can do right now is pray. We need to pray that Christ's Bride, the Church, is fully restored in resplendent glory here on earth, through the faithful prayer and worship of His people.


___________________________________________________________________________
Notes:
{1}

2284 Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor's tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.


2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. It prompted our Lord to utter this curse: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."86 Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others. Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees on this account: he likens them to wolves in sheep's clothing.


2286 Scandal can be provoked by laws or institutions, by fashion or opinion.


Therefore, they are guilty of scandal who establish laws or social structures leading to the decline of morals and the corruption of religious practice, or to "social conditions that, intentionally or not, make Christian conduct and obedience to the Commandments difficult and practically impossible." This is also true of business leaders who make rules encouraging fraud, teachers who provoke their children to anger, or manipulators of public opinion who turn it away from moral values.


2287 Anyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads others to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal and responsible for the evil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged. "Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!"

Pray for Fr. Francis Le - Holy Family Cathedral, Anchorage, Alaska

I received this email from a reader today, regarding some turmoil that is occurring at Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage Alaska. The Pastor, who seems to be doing a wonderful job there has come under some attack and scrutiny. Please pray for them.:

Dear friends of Father Francis,

You might have caught a hint from some of Father's recent sermons that there is great turmoil at HFC. Some staff and some parishioners are complaining about the recent changes in liturgy and administration as well as the building of the Holy Family Center. The Archdiocese has heard a lot of complaints.

It is time for those of us who support Father Francis also to be heard. A "visitation" will soon take place to determine if Father Francis has been properly "pastoral" in meeting the needs of the congregation.

If you support Father, as I and many others do, please, very soon, let the powers that be know that you are excited about the changes he has accomplished in just two years, and the changes that he hopes to make in the next four years.

Here are some people you should contact sooner rather than later:

Archbishop Roger L. Schwietz, ab.schwietz@caa-ak.org, 297-7755
Fr. Emmerich Vogt, Provincial, Western Dominican Province at opwest.org

God's blessings on our parish and our parishioners at Holy Family Cathedral

Now for those of you that may not live in Alaska, and wonder "What business is this of mine?" Or, "How do I know the truth?" Well, that I cannot tell you, so all I can ask of you is to pray. Pray for Father Francis, the parish of Holy Family, and for the Archdiocese of Anchorage.

I will leave you with a few interesting highlights about Father Francis Le and the Cathedral Parish that he is the pastor over... it may shed some light on "why" some are complaining:

• He is a Dominican Order priest.
• Here is the link to the Parish: Holy Family Cathedral
• TWICE Daily Mass
• Three (3) Masses on Saturday
• Five (5) Masses on Sunday (One in Spanish)
• Weekly Mass in the Usus Antiquior (Tridentine Mass)
• Daily Liturgy of the Hours - Both Lauds and Vespers; Compline on Friday
• TWICE Daily Rosary
• DAILY CONFESSION - TWICE ON SATURDAY
• (NB: This is all done with 3 priests)
• A Newly constructed "Holy Family Center" that houses the Education center, the Holy Family Library, and St. Paul's Corner - Catholic Bookstore: The entire center... PAID FOR aka Without Debt.
• A Vibrant parish life with groups, ministries, and apostolates such as the: Knights of Columbus, Prison Ministry, Women's Group, Young Adults, Youth Group, OVER 10 Prayer and study groups, and many more.
• They have a schola, choir, and music director... which attend to all the Mass needs mentioned above.

So please continue to pray for them. There is some obvious turmoil that exists in this vibrant parish and they are all in need of our prayers. If you are an Alaskan, and are familiar with this parish please contact the appropriate folks with helpful and charitable words of encouragement, and your assessment on the situation.