The Alaska Catholic Youth Conference May 26 – 28, 2020

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“I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7:14)

This year’s focus for ACYC comes from the theme chosen by Pope Francis for World Youth Day 2020. The spiritual path indicated by the Holy Father follows the reflection that started with the most recent World Youth Day that was in Panama and with the synodal process, in particular with the apostolic exhortation Christus Vivit. In Paragraph 20 of that document, the Pope quotes a passage from Luke 7:14 and encourages young people to allow themselves to be touched by the power of the risen Lord and to recover “your inner vitality, your dreams, your enthusiasm, your optimism and your generosity”, traits that are characteristic of young people. We look forward to affirming these in traits in Alaskan teens and raising them up as today’s disciples, to serve others. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Brought To You By:

The Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage is a people of many cultures, called by the love of Christ to proclaim the Gospel, celebrate the sacraments

and give witness through joyful lives of prayer and service.

Images from

ACYC 2019

ACYC 2020 EMCEES

Father Michael Shields was born and raised in a Catholic family in Talkeetna, Alaska. After his Ordination to the Priesthood, he served throughout the Archdiocese of Anchorage for 15 years until he received my call to serve in the mission field of Far East Russia, where he had been laboring for the past 25 years. It is his joy, now, to serve the parish family of Saint Michael Catholic Church and to help the community grow as a family of disciples—following the LORD, wherever He will take us. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!”

Isaiah 43:1

I have been called by name for 40 years of priesthood, and He calls all of us. I have learned Jesus doesn’t simply call your name but calls you to himself in a relationship of love. God not only knows where you are, but He also knows who you are. God knows what you’re going through, why you’re going through it, and how you feel about it. He knows you better than you know yourself. The Lord cares about you, personally.

Renisha Gonzalez is a parishioner at St. Michael Parish in Palmer. She and her husband Luis have been married for 14 years and have 4 children. They enjoy many outdoor activities as a family and love playing basketball. Renisha was a military child and is a military spouse, so she has lived in many different places. This is the second time that her family has been stationed in Alaska, and they love it here. The Gonzalez family converted to the Catholic faith after many years of obvious prompting by the Holy Spirit. In particular, the authentic witness of a parish priest and his reverence during Mass had a profound impact on Renisha. After such a witness she decided to join others in RCIA and learn more about the Catholic Church. Renisha shares,

“I first approached RCIA with the understanding that I would learn more about the Catholic Church, but what I encountered was Christ and his redeeming love.” Renisha is very passionate about witnessing to others how God has impacted her life. She especially loves working with young people to help create those prayerful moments where they too can encounter Christ. Through their encounter they too can spread the joy of God’s redeeming love. Her background includes working with young children and teens in the public school sector and in parish ministry. Just prior to moving to Alaska, Renisha served as the Director of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Coordinator at her family’s parish in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

FEATURED CATHOLIC MUSICIAN & SPEAKERS

Sarah Kroger is a worship leader and songwriter. Originally from Melbourne, FL, Sarah’s love for music started at a young age. With parents involved in music ministry, she grew up in a musical home and has been singing in church choirs since she was a child.

Her albums are Your Time (2011) and Hallelujah Is Our Song (2013) and Bloom (2019). They include well known songs such as “In the Silence”, “Run to the Cross.” Sarah’s most recent release “I Choose You” (2017) is a love song she wrote as a surprise for her husband on their wedding day.

Sarah has spent the last eight years leading worship and sharing her music at a range of national and international events. Her tender heart of prayer combined with the rare talent of her voice has made for a unique and intimate experience of prayer everywhere she goes. Sarah’s passion is to create a safe and prayerful space through

her music in which people can encounter the heart of God in a profound way. When Sarah isn’t on the road, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, Dom.

Jesus Huerta has served with CRS in several capacities, most recently coordinating CRS´ national effort to engage key leaders of diverse cultural communities (particularly Hispanic Catholics) in the U.S. to engage with CRS in global solidarity. Through the guiding principles of CRS, Jesús facilitated efforts to ensure cross-fertilization of CRS services in dioceses and organizations that support intercultural and diverse ministries. Originally from Chicago, IL, he also previously served as a Relationship Manager in the Midwest Region. Prior to joining CRS, Jesús was the director of a home for abandoned and neglected children in Honduras with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos

International. He served as director of Pastoral Formation at St. Joseph´s College Seminary (Archdiocese of Chicago) from 2000-2006, and has served on the boards of the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry, Centro Romero (Chicago), Loyola University of Chicago Latino Alumni Board, the Chicago Religious Leadership Network, and Chicago Fair Trade. In 2005, he was the recipient of the Archbishop Quigley Seminary Distinguished Alumnus Award.

DJ Bill Lage is married with 2 children and lives in Minnesota. Since 1994 DJ Bill has been creating fun, energetic and memorable events for all his school events, church events, and private parties throughout the country. He specializes in high interaction events for the entire family, bringing his unique show of music and fun to every event. DJ Bill has been a featured guest at ACYC, NCYC and other Catholic events around the country. His ministry provides some wonderful memories to last a lifetime. DJ Bill will reinforce our newfound zeal and send us forth with joyful and fun celebration.

Sister Genevieve Osayame, EHJ is a loving missionary that serves in the Archdiocese of Anchorage. Sister Genevieve prefers the term un-catechized, over post-Christian. “That is the context in which I see myself as a missionary,” she said. “Our faith has been very much tarnished by the culture of the day. The culture determines your Christianity, when it should be the alternative.”

Every day from dawn to darkness, the three Sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus (EHJ) devote hours to prayer, with daily Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, eucharistic adoration, rosaries and spiritual

reading. Their cozy chapel radiates Catholicism. Outside the door is the secular world. The three nuns are missionaries in a post-Christian nation — the United States. Their mission territory is Anchorage.

Pursuing the vision of the EHJ sisters to be a great missionary power, Sister Genevieve identified Alaska as a ripe mission territory when she visited in 2007. She returned in 2010 to establish a community in Anchorage. In 2013 Archbishop Roger Schwietz formally approved the EHJ mission in the archdiocese. “There was a great need for our presence here,” Sister Genevieve said, recounting strong support and encouragement from the late Anchorage Archbishop Francis Hurley, who advised them to start in Anchorage. “His assuring words for the need for our presence in this part of the world was like the light in the darkness.”

The focus of the Sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus is in the medical, educational, social and pastoral fields. The sisters in Anchorage serve at various Providence Health facilities. However, “What we do [jobs] is secondary to the witnessing,” Sister Genevieve explained. “Our community presence here is more about witnessing than doing.”

- Excerpts from The Catholic Anchor, August 2018

Dom Quaglia Jr. is married to Sarah Kroger.

Dom is a speaker and author serving at parish missions, retreats, private events and conferences throughout the USA and abroad.

His speaking and writing have helped people of all ages lean further into the Gospel and apply it to their lives. He co-founded The Ten Ten Group, a non-profit resource based ministry, to reveal to every person their potential to become fully alive.

Sister Kathy Radich, OSF is a Franciscan Sister currently ministering in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region of the Diocese of Fairbanks among the Yup'ik Eskimo people. As the Coordinator of Rural Ministries she oversees planning, personnel, policies, and ministries in the 24 parishes of the region.

Sister Kathy's love of Alaska began in the Diocese of Juneau where she served for six years as a mission sister in Skagway, Haines, Wrangell, Angoon, and Hobart Bay as well as in the Office of Ministries assisting to coordinate the annual Institute and youth ministry in the diocese. After leaving

the Diocese of Juneau, she earned her LCSW and did counseling for the Family Support and Counseling Center for Catholic Social Services in the Archdiocese of Anchorage. When the Counseling Center closed Sister Kathy was invited to western Alaska where she now ministers.

ACYC 2020 SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE TUESDAY, MAY 26 8:00 a.m. On-Site Registration & Check-In Lumen Christi School Gym 8:00 a.m. Choir Practice & Liturgy Preparation St. Benedict Worship Space 9:00 a.m. Mass St. Benedict Worship Space 9:45 a.m. Procession of the Blessed Sacrament

in the Monstrance to the School Chapel 10:00 a.m. Gathering & Entertainment Lumen Christi School Gym 10:00 a.m. Delegation Leader Briefing Day 1 St. Benedict Church Basement 10:30 a.m. Opening General Session Lumen Christi School Gym Keynote Address: Sr. Kathy 11:45 a.m. Lunch St. Benedict Church Basement and Picnic Area Individual Prayer & Confessions St. Benedict Worship Space 1:00 p.m. Workshop Session 1 - Creed Lumen Christi School Classrooms 2:15 p.m. Break 2:30 p.m. Workshop Session 2 – Prayer Experiences Lumen Christ School Classrooms & Outside 3:30 p.m. Break 4:00 p.m. Conversation with the Bishops St. Benedict Worship Space 5:30 p.m. Dinner St. Benedict Basement and Picnic Area 7:00 p.m. Evening 1 General Session Lumen Christi Gymnasium Keynote Address: Dom & Sarah 8:30 p.m. End of Day 1 WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 8:00 a.m. On-Site Registration & Check-In Lumen Christi School Gym 8:00 a.m. Choir Practice & Liturgy Preparation St. Benedict Worship Space 9:00 a.m. Mass St. Benedict Worship Space 10:00 a.m. Gathering & Entertainment Lumen Christi School Gym 10:00 a.m. Delegation Leader Briefing Day 2 St. Benedict Church Basement 10:30 a.m. Day 2 General Session Lumen Christi School Gym Keynote Address: Sr. Genevieve 11:45 a.m. Vocation Luncheon TBA 1:00 p.m. Workshop Session 3 – Liturgy & Sacraments 2:30 p.m. Service Projects On-Site 4:30 p.m. Service Project Wrap Up/Keynote: Jesus H. Lumen Christi School Gym 5:30 p.m. Dinner St. Benedict Basement & Picnic Area 7:00 p.m. Communal Reconciliation Service Lumen Christi Gym 7:30 p.m. Exposition with Adoration Individual Confessions Lumen Christi Classrooms Closing Prayer Lumen Christi Gym 8:30 p.m. End of Day 2 THURSDAY, MAY 28 8:00 a.m. On-Site Registration & Check-In Lumen Christi School Gym 9:00 a.m. Gathering & Entertainment Lumen Christi School Gym 9:00 a.m. Delegation Leader Briefing Day 3 Lumen Christi School Classroom TBD 9:30 a.m. Day 3 General Session Lumen Christi School Gym Keynote Address: DJ Bill Lage 10:45 a.m. Workshop Session 4 - Morality Lumen Christi School Classrooms 11:45 a.m. Lunch St. Benedict Church Basement and Picnic Area 1:00 p.m. Social Activities TBD 4:00 p.m. Choir Practice & Liturgy Preparation St. Benedict Church Worship Space 5:00 p.m. Sending Forth Mass St. Benedict Church Worship Space 6:00 p.m. ACYC Picnic Dinner/BBQ Picnic Area 7:00 p.m. Catholic Dance with DJ Bill Lage Lumen Christi Gym 8:30 p.m. End of Day 3