Archbishop’s September Calendar
Here is a listing of the liturgies and events that Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz plans to participate in during the month of September.
ALASKA NEWS
Anchorage Archbishop urges Alaskans to join pope in praying for creation
Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz is asking fellow Alaskans to join Pope Francis on Sept. 1 in observing the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.” The inaugural event is intended to be an annual observance and is seen as a sign of solidarity with Orthodox Christians who each year set aside Sept. 1 as a day to celebrate creation and pray for the protection of the earth.
Alaskans to join Aug. 22 prayer campaign to shut down Planned Parenthood
On Aug. 22, pro-lifers in Alaska will join thousands around the nation in praying and fasting to end abortion and shut down Planned Parenthood. The gathering is part of a nation-wide effort to pray and protest outside Planned Parenthood clinics following the release of undercover videos showing the abortion giant harvesting body parts of aborted babies and then haggling over the value of each part with prospective buyers. In Anchorage pro-life advocates will gather outside the Planned Parenthood clinic at 4001 East Lake Otis Parkway from 9-11 a.m.
Inspiration, tears, friendship all part of Alaska Catholic Youth Conference
This year’s Alaska Catholic Youth Conference in Anchorage challenged me to dig deeper into my understanding of Catholicism and, as a result, how to practice my faith in daily life. This intense four-day spiritual journey featured a large variety of workshops, ranging from tech addiction to medical bioethics to human dignity, as well as keynote speakers after every meal.
Catholic radio launches in Anchorage
Catholics radio has launched in Anchorage and KHRM, 94.1 FM aims to evangelize, educate and inspire area Catholics and all others who tune in. The station’s vision is to “proclaim the truth of the Catholic Church with listener-supported radio in Anchorage that strengthens Catholics’ faith and acts as a voice and a resource for Catholic values and moral stances on public issues.”
Alaska teens have love-hate relationship with digital devices
Teens clamor clearly for two things they feel elude them: true solitude and authentic friendship. Alaska Catholic Youth Conference attendees directly named digital devices as threatening their interior life and distorting their social connections. They perceive their peers as inauthentic and distracted in face-to-face exchanges, leaving little room for the vulnerability and generosity required to build emotional intimacy.
Archbishop Schwietz: Despite challenges ‘it is a good time to be a priest’
I am deeply grateful for your presence here, joining me in thanking God for the privilege of serving God’s people as a bishop these past 25 plus years. The memories of the beautiful people I have encountered and the astounding experiences I have had, come flooding in on me as I reflect on these graced years.
McCarthy man faithfully commutes 260-miles for Sunday Mass
Some Catholics take the challenges of making it to Sunday Mass head-on, quite literally. Such was the case with George Cebula — a 75-year-old who lives in remote McCarthy at the foot of Alaska’s Wrangell Mountains. On a recent Sunday he left his home at 6 a.m. and began the 130-mile trip to the nearest Catholic parish. Cebula regularly makes this four hour trip, which sometimes includes dealing with flat tires, stubborn buffalo, moose and other Alaska wildlife, road washouts and come what may in the form of obstacles between him and Holy Eucharist.
Catholic Anchor wins 7 national awards
The Catholic Anchor earned seven awards for excellence in journalism at the annual national competition sponsored by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada (CPA). The awards, for work published in 2014. Now in its 16th year of operation the Catholic Anchor consistently wins in secular and religious journalism competitions. This year’s seven awards are in addition to the three awards received earlier this year from the Alaska Press Association.
Mahoney clan’s Marian grotto cut from Alaska, open to pilgrims
At first glance, to meet the Mahoney clan today is to encounter a winsome remnant of Mat-Su Valley history, with many still sporting fringed leather, western boots and quiet swagger. However, upon lingering in their company, it’s clear that the grit of this family’s bond is no bucolic theater. They are trappers, miners, steel workers, rodeo queens, storytellers, musicians, loggers, hunters, fishermen, bikers, painters, blacksmiths, woodworkers, builders and farmers. They all know how to cook. The Mahoneys’ Catholic faith is the bedrock which continues to shape their milestones, anchor their tragedies and propel them forward in unity.