As Static readers may know, our business and development team (Lynette Schmidt and Robyn Woyte) has been working for the past few months from a small office in Anchorage. By being stationed in Alaska’s largest city and logistical hub, they’re now better positioned to communicate with the supporters we’re so blessed to have throughout the U.S. Despite being fully operational for only a few months (barely enough time to unpack!), the office is already reaping cost savings and other benefits for our mission, which helps us to best serve our rural Alaska listeners.
The Anchorage office is truly a confluence of blessings, since Lynette and Robyn so regularly get to interact with the thousands of people whose generosity — through donations, letters, emails, phone calls, and prayers — keeps our mission going. Last month, their small, satellite office was blessed yet again with a visit from KNOM volunteer alumnus, board member, and former Nome parish priest Father Ross Tozzi.
Fr. Ross’ connections to KNOM run deep. His ordination — on July 14, 2001 — coincided with our 30th anniversary and the Memorial of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, who, in 2012, became the first Native American to be canonized. (For both St. Kateri’s feast and KNOM’s 45th, we’ll broadcast a special prayer novena starting July 14; look for it, alongside our Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet prayers, on this website in mid-July.)
During his visit, Fr. Ross officially blessed the Anchorage office and posed for the photo of the special stole, commemorating his 2001 ordination, that he received as a gift from his former KNOM volunteer community. He also chatted with Lynette, pictured, and presented the office with three medals, of Saints Joseph, Pope John Paul II, and Elizabeth Ann Seton, respectively representing KNOM’s close connection to Nome’s St. Joseph parish, our role as a communicator, and our mission to inspire and educate. We’re happy to report that Father Ross will be present in Nome to celebrate a 45th anniversary Mass at his former parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church, where we’ll also celebrate the 15th anniversary of his ordination as priest.
