In 1998, Alaska became the first state in the union to amend its constitution and define marriage as between one man and one woman, and despite a trend among more than a dozen states to legally recognize same-sex marriage, Alaska will hold the line. Alaska Attorney General Michael Geraghty recently told the Associated Press that…
University of Alaska Anchorage students, faculty and staff received ashen crosses on their foreheads March 5 for Ash Wednesday — the start of the Lenten 40-day period of prayer, fasting and alms giving that culminates in Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz traced the ashes on about 20 people who attended the…
On March 9, the Anchorage Archdiocese celebrated the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion in which adults as well as a number of children from parishes across the archdiocese took a pivotal step in their preparations to formally enter into full communion with the Catholic Church at the upcoming Easter Vigil. The Rite…
Orthodox Christians from parishes and villages across Alaska gathered at St. Innocent Cathedral in Sitka for the Feb. 21 consecration of Bishop David Mahaffey as the new Orthodox bishop for the Diocese of Sitka and all Alaska. More than 40 priests and deacons were on hand, along with four bishops from the Orthodox Church in…
CatholicAnchor.org It has been an exciting past year with Pope Francis becoming the leader of our church. Like many of you, I find great wisdom and inspiration in the pope’s words. The Holy Father helps us to reflect more deeply on how God’s love can open our hearts to solidarity with our neighbors and move…
Did you know that the word Lent comes from a word for springtime? Christian observances of a time of fasting before Easter go all the way back to Saint Irenaeus. But today, who observes Lent? Holidays have been pretty well appropriated by our general culture: Christmas, despite those who harp about a “war on Christmas,”…
True to form, parades have a message to convey; someone needs to be honored for valor, an event needs to be commemorated, special groups need to be appreciated, a day in summer needs enjoying.
And so it was on a certain spring day in Jerusalem that a group of ragtag Palestinian peasants — kids included — came trooping down a narrow alley of the city, willow and palm branches in hand, leading a donkey on which was seated Jesus of Nazareth who had gained considerable fame preaching and healing back home.
In a few weeks the Catholic Church will enter the extraordinary time of Holy Week as the penitential season of Lent comes to a close and we celebrate The Sacred Triduum. During these days, we will focus our attention on the example of humble service and the self-giving of Jesus at the Mass of the…
Last week while on vacation I had the opportunity to read several editions of the Catholic Anchor which I receive regularly from my daughter who lives in Anchorage. The January column by Christina Martin (“Why I’ll pay the fine instead of buying Obamacare”) really made me sit up and take notice, as this subject on…
Much has been said of Pope Francis since being elected to the papacy a year ago. But headlines, sound bites and endless “pontifications” about the pontiff tend to drown out his transformative challenge to the faithful.