CatholicAnchor.org Alaskan Orthodox priest Father Andrew Petrovich Kashevaroff (1863-1940) is the namesake of the new Alaska state musueum in downtown Juneau. Father Kashevaroff was an Alaskan-born priest of Russian and Native Alaskan heritage who served the Orthodox Church for more than 60 years throughout Alaska. He was also the first librarian and curator of the Alaska…
Following decades with very few men following a call to become Alaskan priests, the tide is changing — even surging. As with most good things, however, this springtime of vocations comes with a cost — an average of about $325,000 for one man to be fully trained for the priesthood.
When it comes to men training for the Catholic priesthood, the Anchorage Archdiocese has what many would consider a good problem. After years of few seminarians training for priesthood, there are now five men in formation with two more on the way. Over the past three years two other men have been ordained as priests. The challenge now is figuring out how to fund the extensive education of this growing group of future clergy.
After three years leading Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage, Principal John Harmon is stepping down this summer with confidence that the school is on solid footing and in good hands. “Stepping down from Lumen was a very difficult decision,” he told the Catholic Anchor. “Last summer I was approached about an opportunity that included another one of my passions, international travel.”
A 21-year Marine, combat veteran and former Catholic school student in Anchorage has been tapped to lead Anchorage’s largest Catholic high school.
In two separate April letters to clergy and parish leaders across the archdiocese, Archbishop Schwietz announced that in Anchorage St. Benedict Church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral, Holy Cross Church will all be under new leadership effective July 1. Additionally, Sacred Heart Church in Wasilla, Our Lady of the Lake in Big Lake, St. Christopher in Willow and the Catholic missions in Bristol Bay will all be under new pastoral leadership.
CatholicAnchor.org With only three days left before the current session of the Alaska Legislature ends, a measure to exempt religious-based health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) from being regulated as health insurance in Alaska has yet to pass out of the House. Senate Bill 18 is currently in the House Rules Committee, but has not been…
With only days left before the end of the current Alaska Legislature session, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Alaska are applying pressure on Alaska lawmakers to reject a bill aimed at giving Alaskan parents greater freedom in directing the education of their children, including the right to opt out of standardized tests and controversial sex instruction classes. The bill would also prohibit organizations that perform abortions from teaching in public schools.
Churches have a particular challenge regarding the issue of out-of-wedlock pregnancies. On the one hand, the teachings of Christ and his church affirm that sex is to be reserved for the bond of faithful, lifelong marriage. Many churches have effective youth and young adult outreaches to help parishioners strengthen moral resolve in this area. And yet, a percentage of young people fall short. In some cases, this leads to a pregnancy. This is impossible to hide from public view — especially if mothers choose life for their unborn child and carry her to term.
Alaska saw a record low number of reported abortions last year. According to the state’s Bureau of Vital Statistics 1,334 abortions were performed in 2015, the fewest since 2003 when Alaska began recording data. Last year’s figures represent a 12 percent drop over 2014 and a nearly 32 percent reduction from a decade ago when 1,956 abortions were reported.