The Dominican Sisters celebrate the warmth of Guadalupe in Alaska

By Lorraine Reaume, OP

A lot of images come to mind when people think of Alaska, but they usually don’t include tamales, religious processions and quinceañeras. Yet coming to Alaska has been an amazing adventure and a profound blessing. Several years ago, the Adrian Dominican Sisters asked a number of bishops in areas of higher need if we could be of service. Part of the agreement was that we would be able to live in community with our sisters. In 2006, invited by Archbishop Roger Schweitz, four Dominican Sisters ventured up to Anchorage, Alaska.

At first, I thought, what will I do here? Besides, I really enjoy working with different cultures! However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was a need in a parish for someone who spoke Spanish. Hispanics make up over 30 percent of the parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Anchorage. They have brought their profound faith and culture all the way up to Alaska, and their traditions and processions are celebrated throughout the year, many times in severe weather. During the Lord of Miracles, parishioners processed with the image on a cold snowy night, while the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe gathered over 300 people at the parish at 5:00 a.m. despite the darkness and bitter cold. And although, parishioners are unable to have Posadas outside, we go door-to-door in the parish center. For the Way of the Cross, the faithful walked five miles through the snow from the parish to downtown Anchorage, alternating the stations in English and Spanish.

Being able to work with different cultures and ensure they are valued and included is something the Dominican Sisters love. We work really hard for our big parish liturgies to be fully bilingual, alternating readings and combining the choirs. When we come together in all our diversity, it is truly a sign of the Kingdom of God.

One thing that is truly appreciated about Hispanic youth is their willingness to become involved. The parish has a large, committed youth group that meets each Friday night. Once a month they take on all the roles at the liturgy and perform traditional dances during the Feast of Guadalupe. Even as they are integrated into American culture and society, they are, at the same time, keeping up their strong faith, family values and meaningful traditions.

To be able to walk, listen, and share life with the Hispanic community in this land of moose, of extreme darkness and light, where north and south meet, has been one of the great joys of my religious life.