Editor's Picks
Embracing God’s will with humility | Aceptar la voluntad de Dios con humildad
Forty-eight years ago, on November 4, 1978, I professed my final vows as a Vincentian: poverty, chastity, obedience, and stability (the commitment to remain a Vincentian for life). Over the…
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton welcomes new principal
Molly McManamin began her role as principal of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School in Anchorage this fall. She brings years of experience, gratitude, and a desire to continue to…
Ask Fr. Leo: Convalidation and genuflection
Dear Fr. Leo, A canonical question for you. I have a Catholic friend who is civilly married. She recently came back to her Catholic faith, but her husband needs a declaration of nullity from his previous marriage before their own marriage can be convalidated. He is not Catholic and sees no point in getting an…
Thy daily bread: Give through St. Francis House
I had the distinct honor and pleasure to spend the morning recently with the team at St. Francis House Food Pantry, Catholic Social Services (CSS)’s long-time food pantry. St. Francis House is where our archdiocese collectively helps feed the hungry of the greater Anchorage area through CSS. St. Francis House Food Pantry has been feeding…
Southcentral youth participate in sacred music camp
St. Michael parish in Palmer hosted a sacred music camp for youth entering grades 3rd through 12th in early August. The parish’s music minister, Ashleigh Hecimovich, organized the event with Rachel Alexander from St. Andrew parish in Eagle River. Hecimovich said, “Music in the liturgy should always turn our hearts toward God and lift our…
St. Benedict teens lend a helping hand in Valdez
Matthew 25:19 says, “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Long ago, this meant traveling to distant lands and teaching the people there about Christ and His love for us. Today, this means many different things, including supporting other churches throughout Alaska. In December, I spoke with Fr. Robert Whitney about his new ministry…
Parishioners support seminarians with a game of golf
The Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau hosted its annual golf tournament at Moose Run Golf Course north of Anchorage on August 6. 13 teams registered to support the seminarians of the archdiocese, joining Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M. on the links (term for a classic golf course featuring bumpy, sandy ground). It was a foggy day with a…
Slippery Gulch welcomes Alaskans to state fair
The Alaska State Fair in Palmer welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, and nestled in the midst of the mountains, the fields, and the rides is Slippery Gulch, a ministry of St. Michael parish in Palmer. Slippery Gulch serves as a point of contact between the Church and Alaska. “It’s a way we…
Parish thrives in Yakutat
St. Ann’s parish sits in one of the most isolated places in Southeast Alaska — Yakutat — a town ringed by water, mountains and glaciers, where the world, as parishioner Skip Ryman puts it, “forgot about us” more than once. Two flights a day connect Yakutat to the rest of Alaska now. The population has…
Back to school in the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau
The Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau’s Catholic schools started back up this August. Our Lady of the Valley (OLV) in Wasilla started on August 17. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School and Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage started on August 20. Lisa Williams is the principal of Our Lady of the Valley. She is looking forward…
Saint Vincent de Paul Feast Day: September 27th | San Vicente de Paúl Festividad: 27 de septiembre
As a member of the Congregation of the Mission, or simply the Vincentians, which is the religious community of priests and brothers Saint Vincent de Paul founded in 1625, I am happy to share a little about Saint Vincent with you. But first, let me share my first encounter with this great patron saint of…
Archbishop dedicates new church
(Featured image photo credit, Tanya Somerville) The parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg celebrated as Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M. blessed and dedicated the new church and confirmed two parishioners on July 19. The archbishop was joined by the vicar general of the archdiocese, Fr. Pat Travers, and Deacon Mike Monagle from St….