Holy Family, Cycle A, 26 Dec 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (16 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena Parish in Petersburg, Alaska.  The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph does not show us perfection and everything going smoothly, instead even in exile in Egypt they show us how to love and be loved. In the 3rd chapter of letter to the Colossians we are given the how to live as a (w)Holy Family. "Put on, as God's Chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.  And over all these put on Love, that is, the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of Christ control you hearts, the peace into which you were called in one body.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."

Readings: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23.

Christmas Day Mass, 25 Dec 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena Parish in Petersburg, Alaska. The revelation of the Incarnation that began last night in darkness is now seen in the bright light of God's glory. "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." Merry Christmas!

Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18

Christmas Midnight Mass, 25 Dec 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Christmas, the annual celebration of the birth of Jesus, calls us to look deeper into the mystery of our faith.

Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14

4th Sunday of Advent, Cycle A, 19 Dec 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska.  In the mystery of the Incarnation, God gives the world the most excellent sign of God's love for every one of us and for all of creation.  Gratefully Mary and Joseph said YES to attempting the impossible, because of the promise that the Holy Spirit would be with them.  That same Holy Spirit is each and everyone of with us. If we ever doubt the "God With Us" let us look to Jesus the "Light of the World" offered to us as food in the Most Holy Eucharist. The Birth of Jesus Christ comes about today because we say YES to God's presence and action in our lives.

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24

3rd Sunday of Advent, Cycle A, 12 Dec 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima Parish in Wrangell, Alaska.  In the middle of all our Christmas preparations we are called to pause and Rejoice that the Lord is Coming, to be Patient with ourselves and those around us, fasting from all Complaining, and to be messengers of Hope to those lost in darkness.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Pray for Us!

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6, 10; Psalm 146; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11.

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 8 Dec 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg AK.  Mary's Immaculate Conception is a sign of God's radical overflowing gift of Grace to the human family.  Through God's gift of Grace Mary was prepared to be the Mother of God.  Each of us receives all the gifts, talents, and Grace we need to accomplish what God desires of us, no exceptions, no excuses.  Let us learn to say Yes to God's will just as Mary did throughout her life.

Mary the Immaculate Conception, Pray For Us.

Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38

2nd Sunday of Advent, Cycle A, 5 Dec 2010

Click here to download and listen to the homily (15 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg AK.  John the Baptist calls each of us to repentance. We need to ensure that our inner life matches our outer life.  That is when our spiritual life really comes alive.  Let us use this season of Advent to get our inner and outer lives together--both working for the building up of the Kingdom of God.

Homework: Read the whole of the Gospel of Matthew.

Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12

1st Sunday of Advent, Cycle A, 28 Nov 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (11 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell AK. Happy Catholic New Year! It is time to get ready for the coming of the Lord at Christmas and at the End of Time. We are to prepare the way of the Lord in our lives and in our land.  Here a few Catholic New Year's resolutions I will be doing this Advent of joyful waiting. 1) Read the Gospel of Matthew before Christmas, 2) Spend a few more minutes in Prayer for Others and our World each day, 3) Become a Peace Maker by beating my sword into a pruning hook and fasting from any violent thoughts or actions.  Will you join me?

Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44

Thanksgiving Day, 25 Nov 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (11 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell AK.  Only one of the ten people who Jesus healed from leprosy returned to give thanks.  That is about average even today with only 10-15% of people are living a life of gratefulness. I was challenged ten years ago by my spiritual director while at Mount Angel Seminary to make a list of the ten things I was grateful for every evening of a week.  I have kept this spiritual practice up because of how joyful it allows me to be, very conscious of my abundant blessings. Now there is good scientific evidence, from an ongoing study at UC Davis that this daily gratefulness list works.  Visit www.gratefulness.org for more details and take the site tour today. We do ourselves harm when we fail to give thanks and cultivate a grateful heart on a daily basis not just once a year.

Homework: Make a list of ten people/things/events/etc... that you are grateful for. Repeat often.

Sirach 50:22-24; Psalm 113; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19

Christ the King, Cycle C, 21 Nov 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (15 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg AK.  In today's gospel Jesus hangs from the cross showing that he is a very different type of king.  Not one of power over others, but power for others--one of humble service to save us from sin and death. Often we dismiss Jesus as our king in our feeble struggle for independence.  At other times we recognize Jesus as our king because there is something in it for us.  Jesus becomes our handy man, fixing stuff. Hopefully like the repentant criminal we will recognize that Jesus alone is our source of love and mercy and we will call out to him in humility "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." That Jesus might make take us to himself and makes us whole.

Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-3; Psalm 122; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 14 Nov 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (16 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell AK.  Jesus warns us not to place our trust in today's Temples, Parties, Institutions, ETC..., no matter how beautiful they will fail.  Only Jesus will never fail.

Readings: Malachi 3:19-20a; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 7 Nov 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (22 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, AK.  Jesus is asked about life after death.  Just like the infant in the womb can not image life outside of the womb nor can we imaging life in heaven.  Yet just as we can peek into the womb with 3D ultra-sound; we can peek into heaven via the Holy Mass and the Scriptures, giving us a blurry preview.

Readings: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14; Psalm 17; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5; Luke 20:27-38

All Saints Day, 1 Nov 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, AK.  We celebrate with all the saints our universal call as Christians to be holy. The Saints are those who long to see the face of God when they look into the mirror instead of their own.

Readings: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; Psalm 24; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12a.

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 31 October 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (18 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, AK.  Jesus calls Zacchaeus down out of the tree and into eternal life.  Often we are there in the crowd and grumpy that Jesus is reaching out to sinners.  Standing near Jesus and knowing all about him will not be enough. We need to "put on the mind of Christ" as Paul teaches. Then we would be merciful to others just as Jesus is merciful to us. We need to take Jesus home with us when we leave the church today.

Readings: Wisdom 11:22-12:2; Psalm 145; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2; Luke 19:1-10

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 24 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (14 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima Parish in Wrangell, AK.  In telling the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Jesus cations us to not be too proud of our religious accomplishments.  Instead we are to develop a humble heart that admits it is in need of a savior in Jesus Christ.  St Paul witnesses to this in his second letter to Timothy.

Pray as though everything depended on God and act as if everything depended on you.-St. Augustine

Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on you.-St. Ignatius Loyola

Readings: Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18; Psalm 34; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 17 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (13 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, AK.  Through the parable of the Relentless Widow Jesus teaches us to pray always without growing weary. God does not need our prayer, we need to cry out to God and ask for Help! Restoring the natural order that we are dependent on God and not on ourselves. Let us learn to pray alone in silence listening for the still small whispering voice of God. Our natural prayer partners are those closest to us, especially our spouses. Let us learn to pray with our families.  Moses needed help in prayer and so do we. Let us join together to pray for and with others. Sacred Scripture is the source of our knowledge of God. Let us pray in and through our daily scripture reading. As St Jerome said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Jesus Christ himself." Maybe if we see God as the Relentless Widow petitioning us for Justice we will beginning to realize how often we ignore God calling us to act with Justice for the poor.

Readings: Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8

Gratefulness Journel Reflection

Many of you have asked what I use for my Gratefulness Journal. While I have tried everything from note book paper to bound sketch books I have settled on this YWAM Prayer Journal for the last 12 years. See link below. I just ordered my 2011 Personal Prayer Diary. Yea!

I like it so much here is a little add from YWAM....

YWAM Publishing - 2011 PERSONAL PRAYER DIARY AND DAILY PLANNER

www.ywampublishing.com

2011 PERSONAL PRAYER DIARY AND DAILY PLANNER

http://www.ywampublishing.com/p-576-2011-personal-prayer-diary-and-daily-planner.aspx

Making my gratefulness list every day for the past 10 years has really changed the way I see the world. While I do miss the people and the place of Juneau a lot, no one can step into the same river twice. Change is hard and takes lots more work than staying the same. Change is a sign that we are alive and actively working to build up the Kingdom of God. Life is always flowing forward into the future. I can choose to get onboard with that flow and live radically in the present moment accepting where I am at and what is happening as God's gift, or attempt to live some where else like the past or future. I have found the greatest happiness in the present moment and making my daily gratefulness list really helps me do this.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 10 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blesses Virgin Mary, in downtown Juneau AK.  The story of only one of the ten lepers who where healed by Jesus returning to say thank you calls us all to greater acts of gratefulness.

Readings: 2 Kings 5:14-17, Psalm 98, 2 Timothy 2:8-13, Luke 17:11-19

Homework: In order to develop a grateful heart try this exercise.  Make a gratefulness list of ten blessings you give thanks for each night for a week.  Fun to do with your family at dinner or bed time.

Feast of the Holy Rosary, 7 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Pat Travers at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg AK.  This feast commemorates the defeat of the Turkish fleet at the battle of Lepoanto in Oct 1571.

Let us always remember to pray to Mary in times of conflict and devision.

Installation of Fr Thomas as Pastor PSG & WRG, 6 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (14 minutes) given by Bishop Edward Burns on the occasion of the Installation of Fr Thomas Weise as the Pastor of St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg and St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, AK.

Click here to download and listen to (8 minutes) Fr Thomas Weise renew the promises he made at his priestly ordination, make a Profession of Faith, and take a Oath of Fidelity.

Let us pray for each other. Our best years are yet ahead of us.

Tuesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time, 5 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (6 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise to the Full Time Ministers of the Diocese of Juneau meeting at St Catherine of Siena in Petersburg AK.  The story of Martha and Mary has often lead us to reflected the active and contemplative life.  Today I suggest a different idea. Martha invited Jesus into her home but she was not content to do the work of hospitality her self.  In fact she was grumpy and wanted Jesus to force her sister Mary to help her. As ministers of the Diocese I/we can miss Jesus right in front of us while we are busy with many things.  All too often I look at what is not working or who is not here. Let us remember to focus on Jesus and be content to do the work that is required of us with or without the help we might want/need.

Let us always be mindful to look for Jesus and stay focused on him as we minister.

Readings: Galatians 1:13-24; Psalm 139; Luke 10:38-42

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 3 Oct 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (15 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg AK. Jesus calls us to look inside and see that the gift of Faith that we received at our Baptism is more than enough to allow God to work through us to build up the Kingdom. If our Faith is the size of a mustard seed we can accomplish the seemingly impossible because it will be God working in us.

In the Kingdom of God abundant service is not extraordinary. It is just how things are.

Readings: Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4; Psalm 95; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 26 Sept 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (18 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima in Wrangell, AK. Jesus calls us to care for those in need at our door.

Readings: Amos 6:1a, 4-7; Psalm 146; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31

With the rich man of the Gospel we cry out to God and say, Lord have mercy.

Father, have mercy on us who eat well and contentedly while others go hungry,

Father, have mercy on us who sleep safely and warmly in bed while others are homeless,

Father, have mercy on us who spend hours entertaining ourselves while others cannot find work to fill their hours,

Father, have mercy on us who enjoy fine wine and beer while others lack clean water to drink,

Father, have pity on us who add to our wardrobes while others shiver in the cold,

Father, you sent your Son Jesus as one of the homeless, the poor, and the outcast of the world. Teach us to hear and to follow him, who lives with you and the Spirit in the bosom of Abraham, now and forever. Amen

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 19 Sept 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (17 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg AK. This in my first homily at St Catherine's, after returning to Petersburg from Juneau after five years at the Cathedral. Jesus is calling us to fall in love with his Father alone. Let not concern for passing things of this world get in our way of following after Jesus.

Readings: Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13

An Open Letter to the Parishes of St Catherine and St Rose

Words of encouragement in a time of transition.

There are certain transitions in life that give us the opportunity to look forward and reflect upon the goals we desire to achieve and the mission of being Catholic that we have embarked upon. My transfer to St Catherine of Siena in Petersburg and St Rose of Lima in Wrangell effective 17 September 2010, is one of those occasions. I am returning to you after five years as the Rector of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Juneau. Trusting humbly in the Holy Spirit I move on to this next assignment, desiring to give priestly service to the people of the Parishes of St Catherine, St Rose, and the wider communities as best as I am able.

I am looking forward to reconnecting with each parish family and the larger communities of Petersburg and Wrangell. I have many fond memories of spending time with people building relationships and growing in holiness and wholeness during my year as your interim pastor in 2004-2005. I was with you just two years after ordination and you helped me grow in my priestly identity preparing me for my recent assignment as Rector of our Cathedral.

In the years I have been away from you I have grown a beard and fallen deeper in love with the art of preaching. By God’s grace I have been given an ability to preach with passion, humor, joy, and my odd imagination that can gabs us all (myself included) by our very bones and rattle us to pay attention to God’s word. I often experience the Parables of Jesus like a glass of cold water to the face—waking me up to my responsibilities as a Catholic Christian. Because I have begun to allow God’s word to shake my own spirit the Gospel message of Love and Shalom can begin to take hold in our lives and move us to action. The Shalom of God calls us to be in right relationship with God, ourselves, our neighbor, and all of creation. It is in surrendering to God’s love for us, that God can take away our stony hearts, loosening our bonds of sin through God’s forgiveness and letting God’s love shine out of our brokenness.

It will be in the regular cycle of the Liturgical Year, Sunday after Sunday, when we gather for worship of our great God, that healing and new life will come to all of us. As the Second Vatican Council continues to teach us: Christ is truly present in the Gathered Assembly, the Word of God Proclaimed, in the priest as head of the assembly, and most beautifully in the His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity offered to us in the Eucharist. I look forward to celebrating with you.

St Paul acknowledges throughout his writings that his mission is larger than himself. That he only plays a small role in God’s plan. It was given to him by the Lord, and it is God who has equipped him with the strength to carry it out. Because Paul’s mission is larger than himself, he needed co-workers. I am looking forward to building on the good work begun by you and Fr Pat Casey, OMI. Together we can work to build the Kingdom of God and have beautiful thriving parishes enabled by the Holy Spirit to share God’s Love and Shalom with the world.

The Gospels tell us that what is important is our willingness to remain a member of Christ’s group of disciples, knowing full well that it leads to suffering and death, yet confident that it promises resurrection and new life. Being a Catholic Christian is hard work at all times and especially in a time of transition. Change is tough, yet change means there is the promise of new life. In the last decade we have experienced the Pascal Mystery in the Church universal and here locally in Petersburg and Wrangell. We are called as Catholic-Christians to live radically different lives witnessing to the treasure that we posses in our relationship with Jesus—our intimate communion with God. We are often the only witness to God’s love that many people will ever meet. Let us be a joyful one.

To help our hearts grow strong in the faith let us take care of ourselves in this transition. Make time to pray, reflect, and retreat in the midst of all the distractions this world throws at us. In the silence we will find that God is at the very deepest center of our being, and that God is deliriously in love with each of us. I look forward to teaching you Centering Prayer, one of my many favorite ways to pray by “resting in God.” Let us trust in the Holy Spirit that our community has all the gifts it needs to accomplish the mission given to it by God. Let us fall in love with God’s Word to us in Scripture and in Creation, studying it as if our life depended on it—because it does.

I have grown tremendously as a priest and human being over the last five years. For that gift I am grateful to the Cathedral Parish and the people of Juneau. My prayer for you and for me is that our best years are yet ahead of us here in Petersburg and Wrangell.

Let us pray for each other,
Love and Shalom,

Fr. Thomas J. Weise
Mobile: (907) 209-7307
frthomas@acsalaska.net

24 th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 12 Sept 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (19 Minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at the Cathedral of the Nativity in Juneau AK. In Luke 15, Jesus is criticized because he is hanging out with sinners and eating with them. So Jesus tells the triple parable of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son. God, the Loving Father, is searching us out and rejoicing that we want to return while we are still a long way off he runs to meet us. God is deliriously in love with each of us. Lets tell everyone about the Father's love.

Readings: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 5 Sept 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (13 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Juneau Alaska. The cost of following Jesus is that we "hate" our family and even our own life, preferring nothing to Christ. We can't have one foot on the dock and one foot in the boat and expect to be able to get underway with Jesus. Jesus calls us to develop and undivided heart which then allows us to be better lovers.

Wisdom 9:13-18b; Psalm 90; Philemon 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33.

22nd Sunday in Odinary Time, Cycle C, 29 Aug 2010

Click here to download and listen to this homily (13 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau AK. Jesus call us to downward mobility. Humility, needing a savior, is the key to spiritual growth.

Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Psalm 68; Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a; Luke 14:1, 7-14.

An Open Letter to the Juneau Cathedral Parish

There are certain occasions in life that give us the opportunity to look back and reflect upon the goals we have set out to achieve and the mission that we have embarked upon. My transfer to St Catherine of Siena in Petersburg and St Rose of Lima in Wrangell effective 17 September 2010, where I served as interim pastor for a year before serving here as Cathedral Rector for the last five years is one of those occasions. I write to you my beloved parishioners one last time as Rector of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As Qoheleth teaches “There is an appointed time for everything, a time for every affair under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) Trusting humbly in the Holy Spirit I move on to my next assignment, serving the people of the Diocese of Juneau as their priest.

For some of you I have been with you and your family at your birth and baptism. I have been able to watch your faith grow as you received your First Reconciliation and First Communion. I have witnessed the Holy Spirit come upon you as you were confirmed. With great joy we have celebrated your coming together in the Sacrament of Marriage. I have been at your bedside when you were sick and for a few I celebrated a loved one’s funeral Mass, confident that we would see our beloved again in Heaven.

Yet it has been in the regular cycle of the Liturgical Year, Sunday after Sunday, where we have gathered for worship of our great God, that healing and new life has come to all of us. As the Second Vatican Council continues to teach us: Christ is truly present in the Gathered Assembly, the Word Proclaimed, in the priest as head of the assembly, and most beautifully in the His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity offered to us in the Eucharist. Take heart, only one of these four is being changed. God is good and all will be well. All will be well.

I have attempted to teach you some theology, church history, scripture, and how to laugh in church. You have taught me how to be a priest for you and with you and together we have truly celebrated the Liturgy—the work of the people. I have been invited into your homes, schools and places of work which has broadened my experience and helped me become more fully human. We have worked to alleviate the suffering of those in need who could not care for themselves and have learned together how to live simply and more efficiently in this complex world while staying close to Jesus.

For many of you I have taught you how to “rest in God” in contemplation deepening your relationship with Christ through the discipline of Centering Prayer.* For others we have explored by land and sea and air the fifth Gospel: God’s Creation. Here in SE Alaska creation shouts so loudly of God’s presence and action in the world that is stirs our souls to joy just being out in the snow, rain, fog, mist and full sunshine—often all in the same day. We have learned together how to proclaim to our local and universal communities God’s amazing love for every one of us.

St Paul acknowledges throughout his writings that his mission is larger than himself. That he only plays a small role in God’s plan. It was given to him by the Lord, and it is God who has equipped him with the strength to carry it out. Because Paul’s mission is larger than himself, he addresses Timothy as a co-worker, one who shares the same mission, given to both of them by God. While my transfer away from the Cathedral ends my active ministry here in Juneau there is an underlying awareness that the mission to evangelize will continue where ever we are. Getting the word out about God’s love, here in Juneau and at the Cathedral will continue because you have been such able co-workers with me these last five years. Now under the leadership of our new Rector Fr. Pat Casey O.M.I. you together will continue to build the Kingdom of God.

The Gospels tell us that what is important is our willingness to remain a member of Christ’s company of disciples, knowing full well that it leads to suffering and death, yet confident that it promises resurrection and new life. In the last decade we have experienced the Pascal Mystery in the Church universal and here at the Cathedral. We have learned to proclaim this message of hope by the very integrity of our lives—even when surrounded by darkness. We are called as Catholic-Christians to live radically different lives witnessing to the treasure that we posses in our relationship with Jesus—our intimate communion with God. We are often the only witness to God’s love that many people will ever meet. Let us be a joyful one.

To help our hearts grow strong in the faith let us take care of ourselves. Make time to pray, reflect, and retreat in the midst of all the distractions this world throws at us. In the silence we will find that God is at the very deepest center of our being, and that God is deliriously in love with each of us. Trust in the Holy Spirit that our community has all the gifts it needs to accomplish the mission given to it by God. Fall in love with God’s Word to us in Scripture and in Creation, studying it as if our life depended on it—because it does.

By God’s grace I have been given an ability to preach with passion, humor, and my odd imagination that gabs us all (myself included) by our very bones and rattles us to pay attention to God’s word. Because I have allowed God’s word to shake my own spirit the Gospel message of Love and Shalom is taking hold in our lives and moving us to action. The Shalom of God calls us to be in right relationship with God, ourselves, our neighbor, and all of creation. It is in surrendering to God’s love for us, that God can take away our stony hearts, loosening our bonds of sin, and letting God’s love shine out of our brokenness. Let us all remember our baptismal promises to turn away from sin and believe in our God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Many of you have shared with me in different ways that the Cathedral Parish and Juneau are just not going to be the same after my move south. That is true, and I will not be the same without you. I have grown tremendously as a priest and human being over the last five years. For that gift I am grateful. My prayer for you and for me is that our best years are yet ahead of us.

Fr. Peter’s frequent return visits to Juneau are a good indication that I too will be back to Juneau often throughout the year. I look forward to bumping into you around town and you are certainly welcome to visit me in Petersburg and Wrangell. I will continue to record the homilies I preach and post them at my new blog titled Semper Gumby—Always Flexible: Reflections on the life of a missionary priest in SE Alaska.

Love, Shalom, and Thank you,

Fr Thomas



*Editor’s note: If you are interested in learning Centering Prayer or refreshing your practice by repeating the class, Fr Thomas is coming up to teach an Introductory Workshop on Saturday 9 October 2010, 9am to 4pm in St Ann’s Cathedral Parish Hall. Please let Heidi know that you will be coming so materials and lunch can be ready. (907)586-1513

Fr Thomas is moving to Petersburg and Wangell

Bishop Edward J Burns has announced the reasignment fifty percent of the eight priests of the Diocese of Juneau. Effective Mid September 2010.

Fr Scott Settimo, OCDS: has been named Pastor of Holy Name Parish in Ketchikan AK.

Fr Ed Penisten: has been named Pastor of St. Gegory Nazianzen Parish in Sitka AK.

Fr Pat Casey, OMI: has been named Rector of the Cathedral Parish in Juneau AK.

Fr Thomas Weise: has been named Pastor of St. Cathrine of Siena Parish in Petersburg AK and St. Rose of Lima in Wrangell AK.