Articles by Joel Davidson


Key changes announced for three leading parishes of the Anchorage Archdiocese

CatholicAnchor.org Archbishop Roger Schwietz announced several key pastoral changes involving leadership in three large parishes of the Anchorage Archdiocese. In an April 2 letter to clergy and parish leaders across the archdiocese, Archbishop Schwietz announced that St. Benedict Church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral will all be under new…

April 7 hearing for bill to protect Alaskan’s parental rights in education

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 also prohibits Planned Parenthood and other organizations that perform abortions from teaching in public schools. Senate Bill 89 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee on March 14 at 8 a.m.

Centuries old Mexican Catholic tradition surfaces in Anchorage

Traveling thousands of miles, a unique statue of the Virgin Mary appeared in Anchorage in early March.

Rooted in four centuries of Catholic devotion, the statue — La Virgen de La Defensa (Mother of Our Defense) — is the centerpiece of lively celebrations, prayers and the preservation of Catholic identity for the residents of two particular villages in Mexico, Atemajac de Brizuela and Juanacatlan.

Catholic men urged to pray for end to abortion March 19 in Anchorage

Catholic Men for Life, a lay apostolate at Anchorage’s Holy Family Cathedral, has invited all local Catholic men to gather on Saturday, March 19, to peacefully pray for an end to abortion.

The gathering will begin with Mass at 7 a.m. offered by Dominican priest Father Dominic David in the secluded parking area on the west end of 40th Avenue. Following the outdoor Mass, participants will walk over to the sidewalk in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion facility at 4000 Lake Otis Parkway at 8 a.m. for a continuous rosary vigil until 3 p.m.

Alaskan priests open up about blessings, challenges of celibate life

Embracing a life of celibacy is not the norm in an American culture saturated by sexual images aimed at selling goods and stirring desires. Nevertheless, the Catholic priesthood continues to draw men to a life of total service to Christ and his church. The Catholic Anchor recently asked several Alaskan priests to share how they came to embrace a calling that entails a vow to lifelong celibacy.

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