Editor's Picks
Ketchikan’s ‘Port to Pew’ ministry
At Holy Name parish in Ketchikan, Catholics aboard the numerous cruise ships touring the Inside Passage can disembark and be shuttled for free to attend Mass. Parishes in Juneau and…
Confirmation and dedication in Petersburg Archbishop’s homily (abridged) | Confirmación y dedicación en Petersburg Homilía del arzobispo (resumida)
(Photo credit for featured image, Tanya Somerville) Today we celebrate the dedication of our new church and the sacrament of Confirmation. Our Confirmandi have dedicated significant time and effort to…
Praying for more priests on St. John Vianney’s feast
As the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau celebrates the Feast of St. John Vianney on Aug. 9, it’s a good time to remember the life of St. John Vianney and to pray for more priestly vocations in the archdiocese. St. John Vianney (1786-1859), patron of parish priests, is revered for his ability to read the hearts of…
Shrine of St. Thérèse draws pilgrims from far and near
Alaska is a state renowned for its natural beauty and wonderous sights, drawing over 3 million visitors annually. The National Shrine of St. Thérèse in Juneau is unique in this regard, calling to people worldwide for its natural and spiritual beauty. Many pilgrims journey to Santiago de Compostela, or walk the streets of Rome and…
Alaskan pilgrims share Camino de Santiago experiences
El Camino de Santiago (“The Way of St. James”) is one of the oldest pilgrimages in the Catholic Church. The pilgrimage began in the 9th century with a king’s journey to validate a hermit’s claims of finding the bones of St. James at Compostela in Galicia, the northwestern region of Spain. Pilgrims from all over…
Deacons bless the archdiocese through their ministry
On August 10 we celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence. The deacons of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau continue to serve according to his model. St. Lawrence was appointed Archdeacon of Rome in 257 A.D. by Pope Sixtus II. He was in charge of the treasury and riches of the Church, distributing alms to widows and…
Ask Fr. Leo: Talk about marriage convalidation and camping
Q: Dear Fr. Leo, I am a baptized Catholic and I am looking to return to the Church. I have been married to a wonderful Christian man for the past 32 years. He is an elder in his (Protestant) church. We did not have a Catholic wedding. He supports my return, but he is confused…
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest
In a recent Sunday gospel reading, Christ proclaimed these significant words. Naturally I was drawn to the message of the gospel, but also its relationship to the work we do at Catholic Social Services (CSS) on behalf of Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., and all of the Catholics who make up the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. As…
From the Archive: Shrine of St. Thérèse in Juneau hosts ‘Marthas’ retreat
Originally published in June 2023 ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Martha Ministry of the Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary held a retreat April 27-30 at the National Shrine of Saint Therese in Juneau. The Martha Ministry, affectionately known as “The Marthas,” typically hosts receptions at the Co-Cathedral parish hall. The ministry’s primary…
The Ministry of Safe Environment has a revised message and image
Beginning July 1, the revised safe environment policies of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau will be in effect. Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., announced the revised policies after a multi-year effort to update procedures and policies in his commitment to continually improve and adjust to this vital ministry, meet the needs of the archdiocese, and respond to…
Campers find something special at St. Therese’s Camp
St. Therese’s Camp in Wasilla works its way into one’s heart. Perhaps it is sling-shotting chickpeas at clay pigeons with friends. Perhaps it is seeing counselors bounce Fr. Dylan James off the “blob” and into the brilliantly shining waters of Neklason Lake. Or perhaps it is glimpsing God in the trees, in the mountains, in…
Ask Fr. Leo: Queries on penitential rites and annulment
Q: Dear Fr. Leo, When I was at Mass in Florida, they did an unusual penitential rite. I didn’t catch it all because it caught me by surprise, but it was not the “I confess,” or the “Lord have mercy” one. It only had two parts, and it was over before I knew what…