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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Christ prayed that his followers “be one, as You, Father, are in me and I in you.” However, the Church’s unity has become progressively obscured by the proliferation of churches that are not in communion with each other, starting with the Oriental Orthodox schism and the East-West schism in 1054. These breaks further accelerated with…
When I was a young boy, I went through a phase of yelling and screaming. My Mother handled it in two ways: ignoring me, hoping that the behavior would pass, or, finally, having had enough when it didn’t pass, she would firmly shout, Andrew, stop it! Just stop it! No explanation was necessary; I recognized…
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) consecrated the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida, for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The feast was first established in…