Our Parish
The largest state (in area) of the United States, Alaska, was admitted to the union as the 49th state in 1959 and is located at the extreme northwest of the North American continent. The United States acquired it in 1867 from Russia. Critics of the purchase believed that the land had nothing to offer, but the discovery of gold in the 1890s created a stampede of prospectors and settlers. The lowest recorded Alaska temperature is −80 °F (−62.2 °C) while in the winter, the average temperature can fall below −50 °F (−45.6 °C). Hispanic Population Alaska has a multicultural population, among which 5.5 percent are Hispanics, according to the 2010 statistics. There has been a 27.7 percent increase in this number. The Hispanic population is spread over ten major cities in Alaska, highest is Anchorage, which is about 27,000 Hispanics. Vincentian Mission in Alaska The Congregation of the Mission was invited to the Archdiocese of Anchorage in 2014. The primary mission of the confreres in Alaska is to minister to the pastoral needs of the Hispanic community. Based in Anchorage in Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral, the missionaries travel to different cities of Alaska to reach the Hispanic population.
The staffing of the Mission
Visit of the Superior General in 2018
The Congregation is based in Anchorage and consists of three confreres chosen by the Superior General from various provinces. The confreres who desire to participate in this international mission must be bilingual (English and Spanish). The Superior maintains the focus of the mission, speaks for the mission, and animates and cares for the confreres. The Pastor cares for the people of God in the parish and the assets of the church. He maintains a sustainable environment that enables the confreres to fulfill the purpose of the mission. The Coordinator assesses the needs of all the Hispanic communities that the mission will serve. He coordinates with local pastors, and, in the situation of priest-less communities, he coordinates with lay leaders or establishes lay leaders. He works with the Missionaries to form missionary teams that can collaborate with and assist the Missionaries. He also serves as a Missionary as much as reasonably possible. With the appointment of Bishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., as the Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau, the newly erected Archdiocese merging the diocese of Juneau and the Archdiocese of Anchorage, we have more possibilities now to open new missions.
The Apostolate
Easter Procession
The missionaries accompany the different ministry groups in the parish, for example, the Friday Adorations, youth ministry, formation for the Spanish women’s group and the Hispanic married couples’ group. Various other ministries like visiting sick, hospital calls, outreach through food boxes, formation of the eucharist ministers and lectors, RCIA, Religious Education for children, and other sacraments are done in the parish on a regular basis. Two confreres travel every month to different Islands and to the interior missions of Alaska in order to ministers to the pastoral needs of the Hispanic community. The goal of the mission is to reach out to all the Spanish mission communities in Alaska. The mission works in collaboration with the Archbishop of Anchorage and the Bishops of Fairbanks and Juneau and the pastors whom we assist .
Vocations
As there are few vocations from the three dioceses (now two) in Alaska, the local Bishops do not encourage any direct promotion of vocations to religious Congregations or Orders.
Vincentian Family
The Daughters of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission, and the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul are present in Alaska.
Challenges
The main challenges of the mission are the weather and the language. All the Vincentian Missionaries serving in Alaska should know both English and Spanish and be ready to face extreme weather conditions. Except for one, all other outreach missions are accessible only by plane. In winter, flight cancellations are regular due to adverse weather conditions. Winter is dark and cold. More than the cold weather, darkness can be depressing for many.
Conclusion
Despite all the challenges, this is a beautiful mission to become a part of, especially as we reach out to Spanish-speaking immigrants. All of you are most welcome to serve in the international mission in Alaska.
Fr. Shijo Kanjirathamkunnel, C.M.,
Interior of the Church
