The North Star Catholic / Alexandra Braunlich, Author at The North Star Catholic

Historic cathedral marks a century of sharing the Gospel in Alaska

Anchorage’s oldest church marked a momentous milestone on Sept. 15 — that was the day Holy Family Cathedral turned 100. Celebration of the centenary reflected the joy and solemnity that many parishioners felt in being part of the mother church of the Anchorage Archdiocese. Marked by great festivity, the centennial Mass was celebrated by Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz accompanied by 13 priests, including several former pastors of the cathedral.

Alaska Catholic Youth Conference aims to ‘reinvigorate’ faith

Attendees will participate in daily Mass, go to eucharistic adoration and confession, perform service projects in the community and raise money for Heifer International. On Tuesday evening, Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz, Fairbanks Bishop Chad Zielinski and Juneau Bishop Edward Burns will join young people for an ice cream social, after which the youth will be able to grill the bishops with questions about the faith. This is a popular and well attended yearly event at ACYC.

Alaska’s Pieta explores difficult questions of modern world

For Santo, the journey to making this sculpture began when he was an altar boy at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, and the pastor showed him a photo of Michelangelo’s renowned Pieta. He remembers wondering why that would happen — why God would allow Mary to go through so much suffering because of her Son’s Passion and death. This question, he believes, is the essential difference between his Pieta and that of Michelangelo. He said that through the centuries, most artists have not wanted to make another Pieta, for fear that it would not measure up to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, often considered the greatest sculpture ever created.

Catholic schools seen to dig deeper, “teach the soul”

Anyone can go to any school and learn where the New England Patriots are from. Anyone can go to school and learn what R-O-U-G-H spells. But Catholic schools are something different. They not only teach the mind and the body, they also teach the soul. It’s important to know that God made you, and that God loves you as you.” With these words Father Frank Reitter’s homily challenged a gathering of more than 400 Catholic school students who traveled from across the Anchorage Archdiocese to attend a Mass that was celebrated as part of the nationwide Catholic Schools’ Week.

Dominican friar urges Alaskans to redeem business world

“Understanding how the Gospel message is relevant in the commercial sphere is critical to overcoming a divided life whereby a Christian purports to operate under one set of values at home and another at work or in the market.” That was part of the message from an Oct. 13 talk given by Dominican Brother Thomas More Garrett at Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage.

Mat-Su school pilots classics-based Catholic curriculum

This year Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School in Wasilla is piloting a new curriculum for the 4th and 5th grades, as it discerns whether to implement a classical approach to education throughout the K-8th grade school.
The school was founded eight years ago but with a change in administration last year, the school was at a natural point to pilot a new curriculum approach, said acting Principal Joyce Lund.
“A number of schools, private and even diocesan schools are finding growth and enthusiasm in the rediscovery of rigorous, classical liberal arts curriculum,” she said, noting that over the last 15 years classics-based schools have seen rapid expansion.

Roraff: Final year before priesthood underway

CatholicAnchor.org Families, friends, clergy and religious packed into Holy Family Cathedral on June 6 as seminarian Arthur Roraff, 46, was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz. The occasion marked a pivotal point in Deacon Roraff’s journey of becoming a priest for the Anchorage Archdiocese. During his homily, Archbishop Schwietz reflected on…

Holy Rosary grads called to live the faith

CatholicAnchor.org Immersion in the Catholic faith has defined the education of Holy Rosary Academy graduates Jacob Owens and Justin Klump. The two young men comprised the 2014 graduating class of the small K-12th-grade Anchorage school. On May 20, the graduates were surrounded by family, friends and educators at the baccalaureate liturgy in St. Nicholas of…

Alaskan seminarian reflects on final stage before priesthood

CatholicAnchor.org Forty-six year old seminarian Arthur Roraff is on the cusp of a pivotal moment in his journey to become the newest Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Anchorage. On June 6, Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz will ordain Roraff to the transitional diaconate. After five years of seminary studies and formation, this is the last…

Sacred art points students to deeper reality

CatholicAnchor.org For 2,000 years sacred art in the form of paintings, sculpture and stained glass have brought the truths of the church to life by providing the faithful with a visual means of deeper devotion and understanding. This historic emphasis on art is still evident in Catholic school education across the Archdiocese of Anchorage. From…