{"id":1635,"date":"2012-11-17T20:02:00","date_gmt":"2012-11-17T20:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/downtown-anchorage-bookshop-an-oasis-of-catholic-treasures\/"},"modified":"2012-11-17T20:02:00","modified_gmt":"2012-11-17T20:02:00","slug":"downtown-anchorage-bookshop-an-oasis-of-catholic-treasures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/11\/downtown-anchorage-bookshop-an-oasis-of-catholic-treasures\/","title":{"rendered":"Downtown Anchorage bookshop an oasis of Catholic treasures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Anchorage, Alaska, Nov 17, 2012 \/ 01:02 pm (CNA<\/a>).- St. Paul\u2019s Corner is a little-known oasis of Catholic thought and culture on Anchorage\u2019s 5th Avenue.<\/p>\n

\tThe bookshop makes a point to be more than an average retail store. Operated by volunteers who do everything from dusting shelves to managing inventory, the store serves primarily to evangelize the diverse customers who walk through the doors \u2014 people not always sure of what they are seeking.<\/p>\n

\tSince its founding in 2009, the shop has grown into a unique corner of downtown Anchorage.<\/p>\n

\tAfter more than a decade without a Catholic bookstore in town, and nearly two decades since the closing of the former St. Paul\u2019s bookstore where Covenant House is now located, parishioner Bernadette Frost was asked by then cathedral pastor Father Francis Hung Le to accept the challenge of establishing a viable business that would serve as a ministry to the parish and wider community.<\/p>\n

\n\tStatues of saints are on display at St. Paul\u2019s Corner in downtown Anchorage. \u2014 Photo by Joel Davidson
\n\tAt the store\u2019s inception there was space, but no money for products or shelves. Frost trusted that if it were God\u2019s will, the resources would come, she recalled.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI\u2019ll do my best, God will do the rest, and it was one mini-miracle after another,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\tThrough myriad details of licenses, regulations, inventory and furnishings, the vision of the store remained clear \u2014 it was to serve primarily as an outreach.<\/p>\n

\tWith a $3,500 gift from a parishioner, the consignment of remaining stock from a defunct bookstore once operated by St. Andrew Church in Eagle River, and shelves from a former Christian bookstore, St. Paul\u2019s Corner was open for business on Sunday mornings in the church basement. The humble beginnings reminded Frost of the words of one of the Daughters of St. Paul, who had once run the bookstore across the street, \u201cAll good things start in a stable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tIn early 2010, the fledgling operation moved into its new, brightly lit quarters at Holy Family Cathedral\u2019s Education Center next to the parish and with store frontage on busy 5th Avenue.<\/p>\n

\tEncompassing 1,400 square feet, the store now has an impressive stock of bibles, catechisms, apologetics, books by and about the saints and devotional materials. There also is a children\u2019s section, Spanish language offerings, a western Dominican section, and a variety of CDs and DVDs of both music and devotions. Sacramental and all-occasion gifts are for sale, in addition to statues, crucifixes, jewelry, holy water fonts, cards, incense and candles.<\/p>\n

\tSt. Paul\u2019s Corner also features consignment works by local artists, from handmade rosaries and ornaments to inspirational oil paintings.<\/p>\n

\tIn keeping with the tradition of several downtown businesses, the store participates in the First Friday art walks. October\u2019s featured author was Kenneth Wichorek, who signed his book about the rosary, and in November, Kess Frey will be signing his new book, \u201cHuman Ground, Spiritual Ground, Paradise Lost and Found.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe store regularly orders items for parish programs and will special order items for customers as well. One of Frost\u2019s long-term goals is to help parishes of the archdiocese collectively buy items in bulk.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cAny way we can help and educate, that\u2019s what we are here for,\u201d said volunteer Fran Lopinsky, who, after retirement joined Frost in an endeavor that has tapped into both of their skills in business management, accounting and human resources.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI would never work retail, but this is a ministry,\u201d Lopinsky explained, adding that she feels privileged to share stories that customers won\u2019t always tell to someone else. \u201cEveryone who comes in has a different story, sometimes they tell you more than you want to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tFrost recalled a woman who hadn\u2019t received the sacrament of reconciliation in 20 years, and was afraid of doing so. In addition to giving her resources for an examination of conscience, Frost allayed her fears and assured her of the priest\u2019s help in making her confession. When the woman returned to the store after confession \u201cyou could see the difference in her whole being,\u201d Frost said.<\/p>\n

\tOn another occasion Frost happened to be at the store working on a day it is normally closed. A woman from Talkeetna stopped by the cathedral office inquiring about resources for a seminar she was conducting. Frost opened the store and attended to her needs, stating that the $300 the woman spent was nothing in comparison to the good fortune of being there to help a customer who was a new convert to the Catholic faith.<\/p>\n

\tWhile experiences such as this inspire Frost, she is quick to add, \u201cI enjoy every bit of my work here, from reconciling bank statements to ordering, to meeting with people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tLopinsky added, \u201cNo matter how tired I am, the minute I walk in the door, I\u2019m energized. This is where I am supposed to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPosted with permission from Catholic Anchor<\/a>, official newspaper for the Archdiocese of Anchorage.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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Anchorage, Alaska, Nov 17, 2012 \/ 01:02 pm (CNA).- St. Paul’s Corner is a little-known oasis of Catholic thought and culture on Anchorage’s 5th Avenue.<\/p>\n

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