[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1067-1068]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO FATHER FERNANDO ``FRED'' BUGARIN

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. On January 25, 1975, Father Fred Bugarin was 
ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Anchorage by Archbishop 
Joseph T. Ryan. This week marks the 40th anniversary of Father Fred's 
ordination. On Saturday evening, friends of Father Fred will gather in 
St. Anthony's parish hall to celebrate his 40 years of faith and 
service. I join with the Anchorage community in expressing my 
appreciation to Father Fred for his good works.
  Father Fred was born in the Philippines and migrated to Anchorage 
with his family in 1963. He was age 14 at the time. He graduated from 
West High School in 1967 and went on to study humanities and theology 
at the University of Dallas/Holy Trinity Seminary. Following his 
ordination, Father Fred was assigned to St. Benedict's parish as an 
assistant pastor. In 1978 he was selected as the first resident pastor 
of Sacred Heart parish in Wasilla and served there until 1981. He was 
subsequently promoted to direct the permanent diaconate and ministries 
program for the archdiocese.

[[Page 1068]]

  Five years later, while on sabbatical, Father Fred set out on a new 
direction--to reconnect with his roots in the Philippines and enrolled 
at the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila where he became immersed 
in East Asian thought and culture. Father Fred signed up for the 
Maryknoll Associate Priests Program and upon completion of the training 
he was sent off to Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Father Fred 
had much to learn. He grew up in the northern Philippines and the 
language and culture of the southern Philippines was much different. 
Yet he was determined to connect with the people he served no matter 
how steep the learning curve. It was the right fit--a 5-year contract 
turned into an 8-year experience. What was to have been a short 
sabbatical turned into a life changing event.
  Upon his return to the United States, the Archdiocese of Anchorage 
assigned Father Fred to Kodiak Island, a diverse community with an 
economy revolving around the fishing industry. Blue collar workers, 
mainly from the canneries, made up the bulk of the parish. During 
fishing season the population includes Filipinos, Salvadorans, 
Mexicans, Vietnamese, Samoans and Laotians among others. Father Fred 
regarded Kodiak as a laboratory for incorporating what he learned 
through his work in the Philippines.
  After 5 years in Kodiak, Father Fred was reassigned to St. Anthony's 
parish where he remains today. He is known throughout Alaska for his 
work in building inclusive parishes and is active in interreligious 
activities in Anchorage. Since 2003, Father Fred has been involved with 
Alaska Faith and Action Congregations Together, has taught foundations 
of Christianity at Alaska Pacific University and has facilitated 
fatherhood workshops for the Alaska native community. In 2011, Father 
Fred was awarded the doctor of ministry degree from the Pacific School 
of Religion in Berkeley, CA.
  Father Fred has left a very powerful impression on every community he 
has served. He is an inspiration to his fellow pastors. I am honored to 
recognize Father Fred for his good works and wish him many long years 
of continued service to his faith and to his community.

                          ____________________