The North Star Catholic / 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. Paul the Apostle parish in Juneau.

“The parishioners were all very excited and happy,” the pastor, Fr. Jose Thomas, said. The parish waited three years for the day they could have a new church. Several parts of the old church were saved from the fire. Parishioners rescued some of the stained-glass windows, the tabernacle, and the ciborium.

Before the completion of the new church, ministries such as Soup Saturdays, the women’s group, and the youth group found alternative settings for their activities.

Fr. Jose Thomas explained, “The women’s group was meeting in the public library. These ministries faced many limitations. But we anticipate with more of our own space, these ministries can now return to the new church without the limitations.”

The choir sings during the dedication and Confirmation Mass. (Photo credit Tanya Somerville)

Parishioners have invested much effort into the new church. A little under a month before the blessing and dedication, the parish’s men’s group gathered to assemble the church’s 250-or-more pound cross.

Fr. Jose Thomas said, “It’s a new cross, with a corpus (the figure of Christ on a cross) from Germany, that replicates the size of the old cross. Hanging it up was a two-man job.”

At the blessing and dedication Mass, Archbishop Bellisario confirmed two parishioners, Kristina Barkfelt and Joseph Tagaban.

Because the new church has been expanded, “It feels more accessible,” Fr. Jose Thomas said. “The old church felt a little congested. The center aisle was tight, and the pews were close together. It’s not a big church, but it’s a good size for Petersburg.”

In his homily, Archbishop Bellisario expressed gratitude toward the parish, the community of Petersburg, and all who helped make the new church possible.

The Archbishop said, “Our confirmandi have dedicated significant time and effort to prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation. Similarly, all of you have prepared diligently to dedicate this new church, which has risen from the ashes of its original foundation.”

“As we dedicate this church and celebrate the first two sacraments within its sacred walls, we are the first of future generations who will come here to pray and receive the sacraments. The results of your preparation, hardwork, and dedication will last well into the next century and beyond.”