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Inside:Nigerian Priests

Faith & Family Formation

Cross-Cultural Communication

Founding of the Church in Alaska

Diocese of Fairbanks - Mid-December 2017 - Volume 22 Number 8

Ministering Update

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Bishop & Diocesan Calendar

The Diocesan Online Calendar may be viewed at:

http://dioceseoffairbanks.org

DecemberFinance Council MeetingBishop visit to KotlikBishop visit to EmmonakBishop visit to AlakanukThe Nativity of the Lord(Holy Day of Obligation)Chancery Closed forChristmas-New Years

JanuaryBishop at Region XII RetreatBishop at Navy Chaplain Retreat Spiritual DirectorBishop at Province Meeting in JuneauCatholic Schools Week

FebruaryFamilies Fully Alive ConferenceCTNA MeetingSt. Andrew’s DinnerFinance Council Meeting

1415-1718-2021-2525

26 to Jan 1

1-7

15-19

22-26

29-Feb 2

9-1113

1315

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 living reflection of the Universal Church. Through our baptism we continue Christ’s mission to further the kingdom of God through the human family. We share our living faith by proclaiming the Gospel in word and example. Together we celebrate Christ’s presence in worship and sacraments. In a spirit of justice, mercy and love, we dedicate ourselves not only to minister to the people in the urban and rural areas of our Diocese but also to minister to the world community.

The Diocesan Mission Statement

Diocese of Fairbanks Newsletter“Ministering” is a publication of the Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks which serves northern and western Alaska. Its purpose is to provide a regular opportunity for all ministries throughout the Diocese to share information so that our tremendous diversity may enrich our common mission of service to the people of our Diocese. If you have questions or suggestions for articles, please contact David Schienle at the Chancery at (907) 374-9500 or library@cbna.org. Newsletter prepared by David Schienle for Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska.

Editor David Schienle

ContributorsRev. Robert Fath

Misty MealeyLeigh ScarboroBarbara Tolliver

Patty WalterBp. Chad Zielinski

ProofreadersDeb Leibee

Sandy JordanMisty Mealey

Leigh ScarboroBarb Tolliver

Rev. Ross TozziPatty WalterJim Villano

Special ThanksUSA West Jesuit Province

Credits

Cover Image: Bishop Chad Zielinski with local priests at Mass in Sacred Heart Cathedral during Clergy Days. Deacon Less Maiman, the new Mission Outreach Liaison, assists Bishop Chad at the altar. Photograph by David Schienle.

Follow Us Online @

dioceseoffairbanks.org WWW

Diocese of Fairbanks

Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks

Diocese of Fairbanks

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A Christmas Message from Bishop Chad W. Zielinski

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In November, I had the joy of returning to Mt. Angel Abbey and Seminary in Benedict, Oregon, where two of our four seminarians are being formed. Between meeting with a dozen other bishops and diocesan vocations directors, I led the seminarians in a Day of Recollection on November 2, All Souls Day. I offered Mass that morning, then gave two presentations as a reminder that we are “Called to be Disciples of Christ.” The entire day, we kept silent. We ate our meals in silence, prayed in silence, and walked the beautiful hilltop that overlooks the Willamette Valley in silence. The beauty of Mount Angel Abbey, the bells ringing five times a day for the monks to gather as they pray for the world, led me to more deeply contemplate the call to discipleship. I could see why Mount Angel’s founding monks from Switzerland settled on this site in 1882—they chose a tranquil environment where they could drink in the silence that has been there for centuries. Like those monks, I found that this encounter with silence ignited a craving within me for even more. I began to reflect upon the fact that our world is filled with noise, constant movement, and distractions. A disturbing recent study by the Chicago-based data research firm dscout [yes, the firm’s name is all lowercase and spelled like this] found that people touch, type, swipe, or click their screens an average of 2,716 times per day. Our computers, phones, tablets, and televisions emit rapidly-changing sounds and images to create an emotional response that can easily become an addiction. During a recent trip, I saw a man watch a movie on a tablet while listening to music through headphones and reading the newspaper. On another trip, a woman was simultaneously watching a movie and playing a game on her tablet. For many of us, electronics now serve as the guide to our entire day and this constant distraction seems only to be accelerating. Like many others, I also frequently use these gadgets. It’s almost impossible not to, since they are a necessary part of getting things done in the modern world. But when I travel to a village without cell service and cannot receive calls, texts, or emails, I feel incredibly free. The constant noise of life is replaced with a deep inner silence. At first, that silence is a bit uncomfortable, but once I settle into it, I can encounter Christ more fully. The barriers and distractions in my prayer life disappear and my soul can better focus on the Sacred Scripture or spiritual reading that is directing me toward Christ. I can hear Our Lord more clearly; I can sense His presence more strongly. There is an indescribable closeness between us at that time that begs me to sit and spend more time with Him. The quietude also helps me better connect with the people I serve. I especially enjoy the peaceful time I get to spend sitting with elders in villages across rural Alaska. These men and women have taught me much about silence. You can sit in their presence, have a brief conversation, and there is a great deal of silence. Most of us become fidgety and nervous when there is a lot of silence in a conversation…we don’t know what to do or say. Native elders, however, will sit patiently in silence, sometimes for several minutes. There is often a smile on their faces that radiates from the core of their person, which reflects a true inner peace. Then in a soft and barely discernible voice, the elder will offer a few words that are insightful and profound. At the right moment, wisdom is born from silence. The silence that follows their words is fruitful, too. It focuses my senses and leads me to meditate on their gift of ancient wisdom. This understanding then takes root in my soul and goes with me as I interact with others. Ultimately, the world is blessed by this ancient wisdom that could only be created and shared in silence. I cannot help but believe that silence played a similar role for the Holy Family in Bethlehem on that first Christmas. There were no distractions as Mary and Joseph fixated on the Son of God, who entered our

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world in silence. As an infant, the Savior was unable to speak, but Mary and Joseph nonetheless recognized the unparalleled manifestation of beauty, truth, and goodness in the Christ child. Then the heavens burst forth in rejoicing to announce His arrival to the most simple of folk, the shepherds, who spent their entire lives listening to the voices of their sheep. Like Mary and Joseph, the shepherds were drawn to the birth of the Good Shepherd, whose voice would soon fill them with eternal wisdom. These men would stop their work for a moment to pay homage to the newborn Christ child, and drink in the silence and joy that surrounded Him. The shepherds surely carried this encounter within them always, just as I will always carry within my heart the wisdom gleaned from elders in our Alaskan villages. And just as I do each time I return from the bush, the shepherds in Christ’s time also shared their wisdom with others so it could be born and reborn in the hearts of the faithful. Every year, almost before the celebration of Thanksgiving is over, we are reminded that there are only so many shopping days left until Christmas. This Advent, I invite you to join me in removing some of the distractions from your life so that you may enjoy a more spiritually fruitful silence. Can we give up 30, 20, or even just five minutes a day of television, radio, cell phone, or tablet? Let us instead spend that saved time in prayer and in truly listening to our loved ones, especially our older family members, whose stories and experiences can help wisdom be born anew in our homes this season. Even more importantly, I invite you to stop, listen, and meditate on Christ as our Savior. What wisdom does He bring to your family? What wisdom of His will you pass along to others? What wisdom will be born from you as a gift to the world to make it a better place to live? This Christmas, give the gift of silence to yourself, to your family, and to Our Lord. And embrace the gift of Christ’s wisdom that must be born in silence to be shared with others. “Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” (Job 33:33) Yours Sincerely in Christ,

†Most Reverend Chad W. ZielinskiCatholic Bishop of Northern Alaska

Franciscan Affiliate Group

There will be an initial meeting for anyone interested in pursuing Franciscan Spirituality in the Diocese of Fairbanks on February 25th from 1 to 3 PM at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church. For more information please contact Gloria Slagle at stclare4@gmail.com.

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The Office of Faith & Family Formation

Rev. Robert Fath

Advent & Christmas - A Time to Find JoyFaith is caught more than taught in the family. One of the best ways faith is caught is through joy. Joy is not an emotion that can be faked or forced. There is something authentic about it that points to a deeper reality. Joy should be part of the regular fabric of Christian life. The Lord promises his disciples that “no one will take your joy from you” (Jn. 16:22). St. Paul also instructs us to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4). But how is it possible to be joyful when there is sorrow in our lives? The answer is that joy in its deepest sense is not dependent on positive circumstances or upbeat feelings. Joy arises from an encounter (encuentro) with God’s infinite love for us, which is always present in our lives. It “adapts and changes, but always endures,” even amid great sorrow. It takes the form of a quiet assurance, a reminder that we are God’s beloved sons and daughters. At other times, joy means that one “rejoices in the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6), praising aloud the Lord and thanking him for his gifts. But above all, joy comes from “an expansion of the heart” through prayer and gestures of love toward others, creating a bright, warm and cheerful atmosphere.

Reflection for the Family(1) What are some joys we have experienced in our family?

Are there ways to build upon these joys to create a more joyful home?

(2) In what ways could we add more joy to our family? Could we be more cheerful in giving and complain less? Could we focus less on our own needs and more on the happiness of a family member? Could we rejoice in our family’s love by affirming each other more with compliments? Could we smile more at our family members?

(3) Do we base our lives on the joyful awareness that we are beloved sons and daughters of God or do we let something rob us of the joy of the Gospel? What is it that robs us? Is it anxiety, fear, or impatience? How might prayer help with these things?

- Adapted from: The Family Fully Alive- Building the Domestic Church

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Safe EnvironmentBarbara Tolliver

Safe Environment Coordinator

To all parishes, youth groups, religious education programs, and the Catholic Schools of Fairbanks: thank you for your positive cooperation and participation in teaching our children what is appropriate behavior with adults and amongst themselves. Teaching about safe environment for children and adults should be done over and over again. This is a never-ending topic of teaching children and adults about safe environments. This

topic of safe environment should be brought up whenever possible for a reminder of what is good touch and respectful interaction with others. We also want to ensure that our church buildings are safe. With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, parish gatherings with potlucks, plays, etc., are certain to occur. Please keep a watchful eye by locking doors to rooms not needed, and ensuring children are not left alone or left with an

unknown person. With a spirit of team work, this can be a positive situation for all involved. Don’t forget about our lending library for training volunteers who work with children as well as youth training DVDs for grade appropriate levels. Contact Barbara Tolliver at (907) 374-9516 for more information. The blessings of the Advent Season to each of you!

Every three months, clergy in the Fairbanks area gather for support and professional development. At the closing Mass for Clergy Days, Vicar General, Fr. Ross Tozzi expressed gratitude from the diocese for our missionary priests who serve here. In his homily Fr. Ross said, “Fruit is born throughout the world and we see that in our

own Fairbanks presbyterate. In the early days of the Church in Alaska, the fruit came from Spain, France, Germany, and Italy. In the 3rd millennium, fruit is born from the countries of Poland, India, Nigeria, and the lower 48. We are grateful to bishops from around the world who have sent priests to continue the flowing water of baptism in our

Diocese. As a Cathedral parish we give special thanks to Frs. Kumar, Thomas, Bala, Stan, Syzmon, Alphonsus, Aiden, and Kaspar.” After the celebration Mass for the closing of Clergy Days, a multi-parish potluck was held to welcome the new missionary priests.

Welcome to Our New Priestsby David Schienle

Diocese of Fairbanks photo by David Schienle

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Nigerian Priests Share Food and Culture from their Home Country

by Misty Mealey

In late November the diocese’s two newest priests from Nigeria hosted a lunch and presentation to familiarize clergy and chancery staff with their native country’s food and customs. Fr. Yakubu Zirra Aiden and Fr. Alphonsus Afina arrived in September from the Diocese of Maiduguri, and will serve our diocese for at least three years. Lunch consisted of traditional Nigerian foods prepared by Frs. Aiden and Alphonsus, such as rice pilaf, skinless fried chicken,

and rice with honey beans (similar to black-eyed peas). The priests also gave a nod to their new Alaskan home by serving their Nigerian Red Sauce with moose meat; the tomato-based stew is traditionally made with beef and chicken. According to Fr. Alphonsus, Nigerians usually serve just one main dish at mealtimes instead of a variety of foods typical of American plates. Different tribes also have different traditional dishes and people are not supposed to eat foods

from other tribes, he said. “Even if you’re a guest, I couldn’t serve you ‘my’ food,” Fr. Alphonsus insisted. He added that the “white rice” (rice pilaf), however, is considered neutral and can be eaten across tribal lines. Nigerian clothing also is associated with different tribes, said Fr. Alphonsus. “In Nigeria, we don’t dress for the weather like you do here; we just wear what we want to wear no matter the weather,” he said, adding that clothing is often

Fr. Alphonsus discusses the traditional Nigerian clothing such as Fr. Aden is wearingDiocese of Fairbanks photo by David Schienle

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a symbol of social status. Father Aiden demonstrated this by donning an embroidered white “dashiki” suit that Nigerian men would wear to publicly convey their wealth. The two priests showed a short video to attendees that included little-known facts about Nigeria, such as the country’s status as the top oil producer in Africa (#11 in the world). Known as the “Giant of Africa,” Nigeria is Africa’s largest and most populous country, with 186 million residents of diverse ethnicities who speak

more than 500 languages. Father Alphonsus and Father Aiden come to northern Alaska from a war-torn diocese—the Sunni Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram is headquartered in the city of Maiduguri. Over the past decade, the extremists have overrun cities and villages, displacing 2.6 million Nigerians, leaving an estimated 800,000 people—more than the entire population of Alaska—to live in burned-out villages and camps, according to Maiduguri Bishop Oliver Doeme. UNICEF predicts

49,000 Nigerian children will die from hunger over the next few years without immediate assistance. In 2015 Bishop Doeme publicly shared that he experienced a mystical vision of Christ instructing him to promote the rosary as a means of combating Boko Haram, who has martyred more than 5,000 Nigerian Catholics over the past 10 years. The group gained worldwide notoriety in 2014 when it abducted 276 girls from a Catholic boarding school in the town of Chibok, Nigeria.

Fr. Alphonsus blessing the food

Fr. Alphonsus talking about his cultural foods Diocesan staff sampling dishes from Nigeria

Diocese of Fairbanks photo by David Schienle

Diocese of Fairbanks photo by David SchienleDiocese of Fairbanks photo by David Schienle

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Clergy DaysRev. Michael Oleksa: Cross-Cultural Communication

During the November Clergy Days Russian Orthodox priest Rev. Michael Oleksa gave a workshop on cross-cultural communication. Local priests and staff attended the three-day workshop. Rev. Oleksa discussed the issues involved with communicating between cultures by sharing his own personal experiences. He explained that as a teacher when he talked about animals he thought of wolves from his Polish ancestry that eat little grandmas but his native Alaskan

students thought of animals as spiritual creatures that chose to give their lives to hunters for feeding and clothing the native people. His use of the word animals was heard by his students differently the way he intended. When the early missionaries arrived, telling stories of Jesus, a man who gave his life for the benefit of humanity, native cultures were able to relate to the stories of self-sacrifice, something the animals do for the native community.

Fr. Oleksa discussed that when we communicate between cultures we need to be aware that when we say something it may communicate something completely different to another culture. He also explained with cross-cultural communication that we may be communicating the same thing, but not realizing we are just using different words. By being aware of this we can avoid some of the frustration of why others misunderstand what we are saying.

Fr. Oleksa talking about his experience in communicating across cultures

The clergy gather together for morning prayer as they begin Clergy Days

Diocese of Fairbanks photo by David Schienle

Diocese of Fairbanks photo by David Schienle

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Founding of the Church in Alaska through the Eyes of Bro. Carmelo Giordano, S.J.

by David Schienle

Photo Credit: USA West Province Archives.

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Nothing about founding the missions in Alaska was ideal. According to Bro. Giordano, in the rush to go to Alaska, Fr. Ragaru and he had little preparation when they joined Fr. Tosi. Bro. Giordano recalls the difficulties, “You must remember that when we left Victoria, we had no trunks, no satchels, nothing except what we had on our backs. So when my pants were torn at the knees or some other place, I was obliged to cut a piece from the bottom to patch it, and so I became a young boy again in short pants.” Ideally a grand assignment would be well funded but that was not the case here. Bro. Giordano explains, “Fr. Van Gorpu, who was a friend of Fr. Tosi. Since Fr. Tosi had not a cent, Fr. Van Gorpu gave him $80.00 in gold. Fr. Ragaru got $20.00, Fr. Robaut got $20.00, and Fr. Tosi kept $40.00 for himself. This was all the money we had in starting the Alaska Mission.” During the first winter, most dinners consisted of beans, pancakes, and a cup of tea. When Fr. Tosi left the summer of 1887 for the continental United States, Fr. Robaut was left in charge in Alaska of purchasing winter provisions. Bro. Giordano said Fr. Robuat was not accustomed to purchasing provisions, “so he got about 20 pounds of beans, 200 pounds of flour, a few pounds of tea, and a few pounds of coffee; no salt, no

sugar, no lard, no oil.” For four missionaries this was not enough to sustain them. The missionaries spent the winter begging, borrowing, and trading with the local Indians for meat to supplement their pancake meals. Fr. Robaut almost died during the first winter. Fr. Robaut and Bro. Giordano lived most of that winter in the village of Anvik. Around Christmas time, Fr. Robaut traveled to Shageluk to be present at a native festival. Thirsty during his trip, he drank water from holes in the ice. Shortly after arriving back home, he became deathly ill. After two weeks of fever and delirium, Fr. Robaut told Bro. Giordano, “You will find the old boat. Break it up and make a coffin as best you can, and next spring when there are long days and a good trail, bring my corpse to Nulato. I want to be buried where Archbishop Seghers was killed.” Bro. Giordano said, “When I heard this it pierced my heart like a sword, and I prayed very much for the life of Fr. Robaut.” The next day after walking outside without a coat into 55 to 60 degree below temperature, Fr. Robaut returned to the cabin and began eating furiously. The fever broke and for the next month Bro. Giordano nursed Fr. Robaut back to health. The lack of money and supplies did not deter their religious work in the least. These missionaries

had come to establish mission churches. To build the first Cathedral in Alaska, Bro. Giordano hauled an old cabin to Nulato, writing: “Fr. Tosi showed me the cabin there to be torn down and brought to Nulato with the dog and sleigh; and that was our future Cathedral. So I marked the logs down, North, South, East, and West, tore the roof down, and hired a dog and team and brought the logs to Nulato, a distance of about 2 miles. There we put it up again, and that was our first church. The first Mass there was on the Feast of Pentecost.”

Holy Cross Mission was founded in February of that year when a group of native people 50 miles downriver from Anvik invited the missionaries to the village of Kloychet. A local trader let Fr. Robaut and Bro. Giordano stay in an abandoned cabin. Fr. Robaut

Born in Sant’ Anastasia near Naples, Italy in 1860, Carmelo Giordano entered the Society of Jesus to become a lay brother in 1884. He volunteered in 1886 to serve at the missions in America. With the death of Archbishop Seghers in 1886, the Jesuit Superior of the Rocky Mountain territory, Fr. Joseph Cataldo, S.J., found himself responsible for the whole territory of Alaska. Fr. Cataldo, S.J., hurriedly assigned Bro. Giordano, S.J., and Fr. Aloysius Ragaru, S.J., to join Fr. Pasquale Tosi, S.J., and Fr. Aloysius Robaut, S.J. to the task of establishing mission churches in Alaska. For the next 25 years, Bro. Carmelo Giordano, S.J., would be a key missionary. As a hunter, logger, cook, and builder, he helped establish the first missions. He was noted for learning the Koyukon-Athabaskan language, so well that he prayed his Catholic prayers in the Athabaskan language for the rest of his life. In his unpublished manuscript Memoirs of An Alaskan Missionary, we learn the hardships and rewards experienced by those early missionaries in the making of the Church we see today.

Unofficial First CathedralSt. Peter Claver Mission, Nulato, AK

Photo Credit: Diocese of Fairbanks Archive

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and Bro. Giordano covered the broken windows with a flour sack. On the bare ground that served as the floor of the cabin, they built a camp fire to keep warm. By summer, the missionaries were looking for a more permanent spot, Bro. Giordano remembered, “So we asked the Indians which place nearby the creek to build a mission. And the Indians told us about three or four miles below there was a nice place in a former camp, where there had been an old Indian village, and a nice creek flowed at the foot of the hill. So I went there with Fr. Robaut and visited the place, and since the lodge had been abandoned long ago, the brushes, willows, and spruce were pretty big.” During the summer of 1888, Fr. Robaut and Bro. Giordano worked to build cabins for the new mission site, Bro. Giordano wrote, “We lived in tents then. One night the mosquitoes were so bad, it was cloudy, and we did not sleep a wink. Fr. Robaut said: ‘Brother, take some matches and start a fire all around here.’ We were living near the creek. I went into the woods

which had been cleared already and started a fire in the very place where the church is now. I started a fire in three or four places, went back into the tent, and found Fr. Robaut dressed to say Mass. As soon as he began the Mass I saw one of the corners of the tent begin to burn. I told Fr. Robaut, so we dispatched the fire from the tent. He took off his vestments and ran outside, and with our feet, we put out the fire at the tent. A tree near the tent caught fire; a spark from it went across the creek and started a fire. That fire worked all summer until a heavy rain came in the middle of July. It burned to Piamuit, about 35 miles farther on.” Fr. Robaut and Bro. Giordano worked all summer to build the church and Jesuit residence. Unexpectedly, three Sisters of St. Ann arrived to start a boarding school. In September, a third cabin was hastily built for the nuns’ residence and school. The mission of Holy Cross was named when retired Bishop Louis Looten of the Diocese of Victoria gave his pectoral cross to Archbishop Seghers, “on condition

that the first mission started in Alaska would be called the Mission of the Holy Cross.” The pectoral cross contained a relic of the True Cross. Bro. Giordano remembered, “On the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, for the first time, we celebrated on the very spot where Holy Cross is now, the first Mass, with the Indians singing. Frs. Ragaru and Robaut sang in the choir without an organ, and Fr. Genna celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.” The hardships these four missionaries endured paved the way for the future Church in Alaska. By the grace of God, they received more funding, better food, and more missionary help. With the new support, missionaries found more locations to establish churches. The original church buildings may no longer exist but the parishes of Nulato and Holy Cross are still very much active today. We are indebted to the hard work and dedication of Bro. Carmelo Giordano, Fr. Aloysius Ragaru, Fr. Pasquale, and Fr. Aloysius Robaut.

Holy Cross Mission in 1915

Photo Credit: Diocese of Fairbanks Archive

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Rev. Aloysius Ragaru, S.J.

Photo Credit: USA West Province Archives.Photo Credit: Diocese of Fairbanks Archive

Bro. Carmelo Giordano, S.J.

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