Why does a 15-year old Lutheran girl decide to become Catholic? When Anchorage teen Jamie Nagel began to think about joining the Catholic Church, she and her mom talked. Her mom wanted her to at least be confirmed in their family’s faith, and asked her to go through Lutheran confirmation classes, which were held in junior high. “I went to all the classes. Then I sat down and talked to her,” Nagel said.
Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz announced new parish assignments for several priests of the Anchorage Archdiocese. The new assignments affect St. Andrew Church in Eagle River and Sacred Heart Church in Wasilla.
Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Francis Hurley celebrated his 45th anniversary as a bishop on March 19. This came just on the heels of his 88th birthday, Jan. 12. With nearly nine decades behind him, he still begins each day presiding over Mass in his Anchorage home. Those taking part are friends, visitors and his own care-givers in their uniforms, huddled close in the humble, yet richly symbolic chapel.
Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Francis Hurley celebrated his 45th anniversary as a bishop on March 19 with a special luncheon at the Hotel Captain Cook in downtown Anchorage. Attending the gathering were Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz, Archbishop Hurley’s long-time secretary Joann White, two of Archbishop Hurley’s nephews and many of the priests of the Anchorage Archdiocese.
CatholicAnchor.org The March and April issues of the Catholic Anchor are historically our most political, as they come out at the time when the Alaska Legislature debates scores of bills that invariably shape Alaska’s cultural landscape. As Christians, we cannot shrink from politics or view it as the purview of elected officials and political insiders….
A change to Alaska’s education tax credit program could have a big impact on the state’s Catholic schools, according to Alaska Catholic Conference executive director Mary Gore. And private schools are poised to get the word out. The program, in existence since 2011, provided tax savings to qualifying individuals and companies who donated to Alaska’s public schools and universities. Now, those same benefits have been extended to the state’s private schools.
The annual event honoring Alaskans who serve the Catholic Church in the spirit of Saint Francis, has received some updates for 2015. For starters, the event is now officially called the St. Francis Stewardship Awards to better reflect the stewardship aspect of the program. The event time has also changed from its traditional date in February to early October, closer to the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi. Additionally, this year’s awards will highlight, specifically, the work of parish volunteers.
Here is a list of some upcoming liturgies, special events, volunteer opportunities and other happenings across the Anchorage Archdiocese in the coming weeks.
A series of classes in Natural Family Planning (NFP) begins on March 24 in Anchorage. NFP is an umbrella term for certain methods used to achieve and avoid pregnancies. These methods are based on observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle. No drugs, devices or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy.
CatholicAnchor.org Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz is hosting a March 25 prayer service to seek healing for those who have been impacted by abuse and violence. The gathering will take place at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Anchorage (3900 Wisconsin St.) at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. The service is titled “A…