FATHER TIMOTHY L. SANDER, OSB MONK IN ALASKA SINCE 1970

Volume 42 Number 3
Some give by going to the Missions
April 2004
Some go by giving to the Missions
Without both there are no Missions
FATHER TIMOTHY L. SANDER, OSB
MONK IN ALASKA SINCE 1970
When asked how it was that he, a
Benedictine monk, had wound up ministering in
Alaska, of all places, Father Tim, OSB, answered:
“I have received the permission of six Abbots to
continue my work in Alaska. I have outlived
three of them. This is where I need to be.”
“Tim” Sander, the first of eleven children,
was born to Leo B. and Theresa Durrer Sander in
Ashland, Oregon, on September 12, 1915.
Baptized the day after his birth, he was named
Leo Joseph. It was later, while in the seminary,
that he took the name Timothy as his Religious
name. Why Timothy? As a boy, he knew an Irish
policeman, “Officer Tim,” whom he liked. He
also liked the name Tim.
When Tim was still a young boy, the
family moved to Tillamook, Oregon, where
Catholic schooling was available to the Sander
children. At age seven, he began to attend the
same school his father had attended: St.
Alphonsus Academy, taught by the Sisters of St.
Mary of Beaverton, Oregon. There he received
his elementary and two years of his secondary
education.
When, in 1929, Catholic
schoolchildren in Oregon were no longer allowed
to ride public school buses, 14-year-old Tim was
provided with a limited driver’s license by his
father—a dairy farmer—so that he could drive
his brothers and sisters to and from school. On
the way to school, they stopped at the cheese
factory to deliver the milk; on the way home after
school, they stopped again to pick up milk cans
filled with whey for the pigs.
CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NORTHERN ALASKA
1312 PEGER ROAD FAIRBANKS, ALASKA 99709
Phone: 907-374-9532
Fr. Tim Sander2.pmd
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http: //www.cbna.info
Photo By Curtis Almquist
Tim had a favorite uncle, “Father Louie,” a
diocesan priest of the Archdiocese of Portland. His
inspiring example, along with that of Benedictine
priests staffing the Tillamook parish, Sacred Heart,
motivated Tim to enter the seminary high school at
Mount Angel, Oregon, in 1931, for the last two years
of his secondary education. In 1933, he began
studies in the seminary college at Mount Angel. He
Special Masses are offered throughout the year for
you and your intentions by our Missionary Priests.
Please pray that God may bless us and our work.
3/24/2004, 12:31 PM
A postcard sent to Father Tim Sander’s father Leo Sander,
in 1920, depicts an uncle’s rendition of the family move to
Sunnynook farm.
made his monastic profession on September 8,
1936. By 1938, he had earned his B.S. degree. He
then went on to theological studies. He was
ordained a priest by Edward D. Howard,
Archbishop of Portland, on May 22, 1941.
Subsequently, two of his brothers likewise
became Benedictine priests and members of
Mount Angel Abbey.
In 1942, Father Tim was sent to be a
community member of the new Westminster
Abbey, first in Burnaby, then in Mission City,
British Columbia, Canada. There he taught at
Christ the King Seminary until 1956, when he
returned to Mount Angel to teach at Mount Angel
Prep. From 1961-64, he was its principal.
Although Mount Angel Prep was sold, in 1964,
to the Archdiocese of Portland and renamed John
F. Kennedy High, he continued on as a teacher
and its vice principal during the years 1964-69.
When the school was sold again, in 1969, and
became a public school, he had his fill of school
closings.
During the school year 1969-70, Father Tim’s
cousin, MaryLee Lowry, was teaching at Monroe
Catholic High School in Fairbanks, Alaska, as a
member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Contact
with her got him thinking north. Processed
through the JVC, he found himself in Fairbanks
as of August 26, 1970, at the age of 55, beginning
eight years of teaching and counseling at Monroe.
By then, he had been a licensed airplane pilot
already for twelve years and had taught ground
school and flying classes at Mount Angel Prep.
In 1966, he had earned an M.A. degree in
Education from the University of Oregon.
During his years at Monroe, 1970-78, Father
Tim served also as Civilian Chaplain at the
Murphy Dome Air Force Station near Fairbanks.
In addition, he was also Superintendent of
Catholic Schools during the years 1973-75. In
1971, he became a member of the Alaska Civil
Air Patrol. As such, he was involved in many
search and rescue operations. As of the year 2004,
he was still an active member of the ACAP.
In 1974, Father Tim entered and completed a
course in Marriage and Family Counseling at the
American Institute of Family Relations in Los
Angeles, California. The following year, he
received his M.A. degree in Psychology—with
emphasis on marriage, family, and child
Bishop Edward D. Howard, then Archbishop of Portland, ordains Father Timothy L. Sander, OSB, on May
22, 1941, at Mount Angel Abbey.
--Photo courtesy of Sander Family
We want to thank in a special way those of you who have included the Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska (our
legal title) in your bequests and wills, and those of you who, at the time of the deaths of dear ones, have suggested
that, in their memory, contributions be made to the Missions of Northern Alaska or to the Alaskan Shepherd
Endowment Fund. For more information, please contact Tom Buzek, Business Administrator: 907-374-9528.
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3/24/2004, 12:31 PM
With Sincere Gratitude To The Friends
Of The Missionary Diocese Of Fairbanks, Alaska
We Announce The Ordination To Diocesan Priesthood
Of
Seminarian Sean Thomson
May 28, 2004
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Celebrated By
Most Reverend Donald J. Kettler
Seminarian Robert Fath,
Mt. Angel Abbey,
St. Benedict, Oregon.
Sean Thomson, Mt. Angel Abbey,
St. Benedict, Oregon.
Seminarian David Regan,
Mt. Angel Abbey,
St. Benedict, Oregon.
TO: CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NORTHERN ALASKA
1312 Peger Road, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
DATE_______________________________________
Dear Bishop Kettler:
Enclosed is my special donation of $________________to the Seminary Training FUND, a fund
intended exclusively for the Education of Seminarians of the Diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska.
NAME_________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS______________________________________________________________________
CITY__________________________________STATE________________ZIP_______________
Please make checks payable to: CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NORTHERN ALASKA
Fr. Tim Sander2.pmd
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3/24/2004, 12:31 PM
Alaskan Shepherd CREDIT CARD Donations!
The Alaskan Shepherd is happy to announce that we can now offer our donors the option of making
their offerings to the Alaskan Missions by credit card. We have had substantial interest in this
option and are pleased we are now able to provide this service. If you are interested in a one-time,
regular or periodic offering by credit card, please fill out the information below and we will be
happy to extend this service to you.
FULL NAME AS LISTED ON CREDIT CARD: ___________________________________________
TYPE OF CARD (Visa or Master Cards only):
VISA ________ MASTER CARD _________
CREDIT CARD NUMBER (Strictly confidential): _________________________________________
EXPIRATION DATE: _________________________ AMOUNT OF GIFT: _____________________
Do you want this gift regularly charged to your account? If so, please tell us how often:
REGULAR DONATION
SEMINARIAN TRAINING FUND
One time only: _________ Monthly: _________ Semi-Annually: __________ Annually: _________
All information will be held in the strictest confidentiality and will not be used for any other
purpose than listed herein.
SIGNATURE: _________________________________________________DATE:__________________
*Optional --PHONE #:____________________________________EMAIL:_______________________
If you would prefer to make this donation by phone, please call the Alaskan Shepherd office at 907-374-9532.
Please make checks payable to: Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska
Alaskan Shepherd DIRECT DEPOSIT Donations!
Additionally, we have had numerous requests from our benefactors asking if they could make
electronic, direct-deposit donations on a monthly, or periodic basis, automatically. We have worked
out a procedure with our bank to enable these types of deposits. The following information is
necessary to begin your donation:
YOUR BANK NAME: _________________________________________________________________
YOUR NAME AS IT APPEARS ON ACCOUNT:_________________________________________
YOUR BANK ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________
YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NAME: _____________________________________________________
YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER __________________YOUR BANK ROUTING #: ______________
After providing us with the above information, please sign below, as your authorization to our
bank to take donations from your account, in the amount of $_______________
Monthly: (DATE)__________ Quarterly:(DATE) __________ or Annually: (DATE)__________.
PURPOSE OF DEPOSIT: (i.e., Regular Donation, Catholic Schools, Seminarian Training, Endowment etc.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
All information will be held in the strictest confidentiality and will not be used for any other
purpose than listed herein.
SIGNATURE: ________________________________________________DATE:__________________
MAILING ADDRESS:_________________________________________________________________
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3/24/2004, 12:31 PM
A Sander Family photo, taken on the occasion of Fr. Tim’s brother, George’s (Fr. Bernard) ordination.
Father Tim is fifth from the right in the front row. --Photo courtesy of Sander Family
therapy—from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles.
Back in Fairbanks—with the blessing of his Father
Abbot, Anselm Galvin, O.S.B.—Father Tim continued
his work at Monroe and taught aviation ground
school courses. A Cessna 172 had been made available
to the school for flight instruction. Holding an
instructor’s rating, he helped many students receive
their private certificates with land and sea ratings.
At the request of Robert L. Whelan, S.J., Bishop of
Fairbanks at the time, Father Tim, in 1978, took a
position as counselor at Fairbanks Counseling and
Adoption. In 1981, he became a member of the
American Association for Marriage and Family
Therapy, Alaska Division. For a time, he served as its
elected president.
In 1983, Father Tim, now age 68, was assigned to
offer the Eucharistic and Sacramental liturgies for the
Catholic Church North Community, a community
that, in 1991, blossomed into St. Raphael’s parish. For
12 years, he faithfully served this community. Feeling
the weight of his 80 years, he retired from this
assignment in 1995. Reflecting on his time at St.
Raphael’s, he wrote some years later: “It was a time
of spiritual growth for me. The community supported
me in many ways. They are still family for me. I am
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one of them.” Betty Johnson, Director of Worship for
the Diocese of Fairbanks and who played a major role
in St. Raphael’s coming into being, said of Father Tim:
“He was wonderful to work with, always there for us
when needed.” Current pastor, Fr. Patrick Bergquist
says of Fr. Tim, “He is a kind and gentle soul grown
wise with the passage of time, yet, always a twinkle
in his eye.”
Father Tim Sander, OSB, shortly after arriving in Fairbanks,
poses with a Cessna 180, at Watson Lake in the Yukon Territory, Canada.
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2004, he was still feeling “pretty good.” To the
question what he yet hoped to accomplish, he replied:
“I just want to keep flying, fishing, and serving.” In
flying he experienced a freedom he found hard to
explain. By “serving,” he meant mainly his role in
Beginning Experience. “I get a great joy from helping
people work through their grieving,” he wrote. “That
they go on despite the suffering and laugh and feel
good again, that is my reward.”
To the comment that his past students must
have considered him--a priest and teacher and pilot-to be “pretty cool,” Father Tim responded, with a
grin, “I’m still pretty cool.”
A photo of some members of the Sander family features,
from left, parents Theresa and Leo B. Sander and three of
their children: Fr. Bernard (George), Sister Eugenia
(Gertrude) , and Father Tim. The family would later contribute an additional member to the Benedictine Order,
son and brother , Fr. Placidus (Harold).
--Photo courtesy of Sander Family
--Patty Walter
After his years of service to St. Raphael’s, Father
Tim continued his private practice as a marriage and
family counselor. He also continued as acting
facilitator of Beginning Experience, a Christian
support group that facilitates the grief resolution
process for adults and children who have suffered a
loss through death, divorce, or separation. In a March
17, 2004, letter, Anita Hartmann, a member of the
Board of Directors of Beginning Experience, described
Father Tim—with the program now for 25 years—as
“clearly the rock upon which Beginning Experience
rests.”
But, more and more, “retirement” began to mean
just that for Father Tim. A sign posted in his truck
camper read: “Retired. No clock. No address. No
phone. No money.” In reality, however—even as the
third millennium dawned—he did manage to keep
plenty busy, mainly as a counselor and Beginning
Experience facilitator. Though well into his 80’s by
then, he still, occasionally, also drove or flew to
various outlying places to bring the Mass and
Sacraments to Catholic communities in need of a
priest.
In 2002, Father Tim was found to be suffering from
prostate cancer. Successful radiation treatment
followed. In 2003, he competed in the Senior
Olympics held in Fairbanks. He walked away from
these with an impressive 15 gold medals. In the year
Special thanks to those of you who have sent
stamps! These 37¢ first class gifts are of great
use to the Alaskan Shepherd.
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Father Tim Sander, OSB, participates in the Senior
Games and wins 15 gold medals. The annual event
took place on August 24, 2003.
--Photo courtesy of Eric Engman
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Again we assure you that we never, under any circumstances, sell, exchange, or give out the names of our benefactors. This has been and continues to be our sacred pledge.
3/24/2004, 12:31 PM