A Catholic priest who serves parishes in Petersburg and Wrangell has suffered a life-threatening heart attack.
The Rev. Thomas Weise, 46, was hospitalized Nov. 25, the evening before Thanksgiving while visiting family in Southern California.
Michael Monagle is business manager of the Catholic Diocese of Juneau, which includes all of Southeast Alaska.
“He’s currently in the hospital and is undergoing treatment. About the most I can say is his prognosis at this point is guarded, but he is showing some improvement,” Monagle said.
Weise was ordained in the diocese in 2002. He’s served at Juneau’s Cathedral of the Nativity as well as Wrangell’s St. Rose of Lima Parish and Petersburg’s St. Catherine of Siena Parish.
Monagle says Weise timed flights and ferry trips so he could celebrate mass in both towns on the same Sunday. He also drew notice by kayaking between the two small cities.
“He’s a real outdoor enthusiast, hiking [and] kayaking,” Monagle said. “He really loves serving in those communities and getting out into the outdoors.”
Monagle says Weise also took up carpentry and worked on renovating aging church buildings. Earlier this year, the priest went a month without speaking during his time at a Jesuit retreat center.
The diocese and churches are asking for prayers for Weise, known to many as Father Thomas, and his family. Updates are being posted on the Diocese of Juneau’s Facebook page.
Ed Schoenfeld is Regional News Director for CoastAlaska, a consortium of public radio stations in Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg and Wrangell.
He primarily covers Southeast Alaska regional topics, including the state ferry system, transboundary mining, the Tongass National Forest and Native corporations and issues.
He has also worked as a manager, editor and reporter for the Juneau Empire newspaper and Juneau public radio station KTOO. He’s also reported for commercial station KINY in Juneau and public stations KPFA in Berkley, WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and WUHY in Philadelphia. He’s lived in Alaska since 1979 and is a contributor to Alaska Public Radio Network newscasts, the Northwest (Public Radio) News Network and National Native News. He is a board member of the Alaska Press Club. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he lives in Douglas.
