Frontier Living

As a Catholic living in Alaska outside of the Big 3 (Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks) it is a very trying existence. The analogy of living on the frontier is apropos, not only is it uncharted and sparse but also somewhat lawless and 'behind the times'.

As the head of a young family, the decisions I face in terms of guiding my family in the faith are difficult and heart-wrenching. While there are a good number of loving Catholic families at the parishes here in our local area, the Church itself is something that makes me wonder if God really wants us here. Yet, at the same time there is a part of me that wonders if maybe the problems are exactly why God does want us here.

It is heart-breaking that good Catholic families can't send their children to the parish Catechism (faith formation) because of the heterodoxy and distorted virtues, that families can't get involved with the various parish ministries because they are seen as "complainers" or "extreme Catholics", or that there are children who are paraded around during their Sacraments like show dogs performing dances and tricks.

There are good and faithful Catholics that have gone in two directions. Some have complained and complained to the point of marginalization. Many of these folks have retreated and become insular, only attending Church for Mass and the Sacraments. Others have decided to compromise and accept the modern heresies for the sake of unity and community- often these folks eventually too become insular once a line "too far" is drawn.

Church here isn't about God or the Mass - it is about people and community. Those leading the parishes know there is "pain and division" but to them it isn't about problems, but a difference of "opinion" - to them the Catechism, Canon Law, GIRM, and Missal are simply guidelines.

There are a lot of problems and a lot of blame to go around. Priests, parish coordinators, and Chancery officials all are to blame - but so are we the people. We stay quiet, continue to give money, and retreat into our anger and frustration. But mostly, the blame is most fairly upon the backs of those that run the day to day operations of the parishes. This weekend alone I was emailed stories of "Birthday" Mass celebrations full of banners and balloons, homilies quickly given so as to allow lay presenters- while the priest left the sanctuary to sit with the people, and music that bordered on secular.

I have been both critical and supportive of the Church here in Alaska in the past. But at this point ... the Church in Alaska outside the big cities is broken. It isn't enough to just get by. In areas where there are WalMarts, McDonalds and internet cafes, the Church is still treated as if the area just got electricity. It is time for the Church to reform... it is time for a return to truth and orthodoxy. The last frontier should be leading the Church into glory, not into modernism and heterodoxy.