Priest-volunteers bring Christmas Mass to rural Alaskan Catholics

Published: 2005-12-15

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNS) -- The Anchorage Archdiocese's chronic shortage of priests means that about a third of its 28 parishes and missions do not get to celebrate Mass every Sunday. But thanks to a group of priests from around the archdiocese and beyond, every Catholic church in the archdiocese was expected -- weather permitting -- to have a priest for Christmas. Every year as far back as anyone can remember, the archdiocese has assembled a merry medley of men to spend Christmas with a rural Alaskan parish. This year priests were coming from Boston, San Antonio and Portland, Ore., to join the archdiocese's faithful standbys, the "supply priests" who fan out throughout the year to cover priestless parishes. "It's so special to have a priest for Mass through the Christmas season, to fully celebrate the Eucharist when we celebrate Christ's coming," said Holy Family Sister Marie Ann Brent, pastoral director of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Valdez.

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