The North Star Catholic / Joel Davidson, Author at The North Star Catholic

Anchorage cathedral vandalized

The historic Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage was vandalized on Dec. 2. The Dominican priests who staff the parish found it damaged and in disarray at about 4:30 p.m.

A video of the damage taken by Dominican Father Mark Francis Manzano shows overturned pews, spilt holy water, toppled liturgical furniture, including the archbishop’s presider’s chair and debris scattered throughout the sanctuary. Advent candles and the ambo were also thrown to the floor and a microphone connected to the sound system was ripped out.

Anchorage attorney freed to enter cloistered monastery

CatholicAnchor.org Anchorage attorney, convert to Catholicism and Holy Family Cathedral parishioner Tara Clemens has finally been able to enter the Corpus Christi Monastery, a Dominican religious cloister in Menlo Park, Ca. The mission of the cloistered Dominican nuns is to honor and promote devotion to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Writing in the cathedral’s…

December calendar items across Anchorage Archdiocese

CatholicAnchor.org Editor’s note: The following is a list of events and liturgies planned across the Anchorage Archdiocese in the month of December. Events are in Anchorage unless noted. Sundays, 11 a.m., Mass, AK Native Medical Center Sundays, 4 p.m., Dominican Rite Mass, Cathedral Sundays (2nd & 4th of the month), 7-9 p.m., Sacred Harp choral…

Anchorage Archbishop’s December calendar

CatholicAnchor.org Editor’s note: The following is a list of some of the engagements, public events and liturgies on Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz’s December calendar. All events are in Anchorage unless noted. Dec. 4, 9 a.m., Mass, Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 11, 9 a.m., Mass, Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 12, 5:30 p.m., Mass of…

George Washington’s Thanksgiving proclamation rooted in faith

CatholicAnchor.org Editor’s note: The following is the Thanksgiving proclamation issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789. Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and…

Remembering a legend who brought Catholic faith to Alaska

CatholicAnchor.org Juneau Bishop Edwards Burns lead a group of Alaskan pilgrims to the hometown of an Italian priest who traveled to Alaska in the late 1800s to bring the Catholic faith to far-flung villages. Read the account of their pilgrimage here.

Nome considers taxing churches to raise city funds

The Nome City Council is moving forward with an unprecedented plan to tax local churches and nonprofits in an effort to increase city coffers. A recent article by KNOM.org reports that with the city budget projected to run a deficit, the council plans to move forward with an ordinance to remove sales tax exemptions from more than 40 local nonprofits including St. Joseph Catholic Church and 10 other churches. The city estimates the move will bring it an added $300,000. If the proposal passes, Nome would become the first town in the nation to tax its churches.

Alaska deacon finds God’s grace at death’s doorstep

A year ago Deacon Curt Leuenberger lay in an Anchorage hospital surrounded by his wife, family, friends and clergy who gathered to pray, to perform last rites and then to say a final goodbye. The diseased and broken body of this former big game guide who once hunted Kodiak brown bears for a living was shutting down. After 52 years, four children and 10 grandchildren he was unconscious and stretched out on a hospital bed. His life was in the final stages of a premature end, so it seemed.

Military chaplain shocked at being named bishop for Fairbanks

CatholicAnchor.org Pope Francis decision to tapped Father Chad Zielinski to become the new bishop for the Diocese of Fairbanks shocked the active military chaplain at Eielson Air Force Base. Bishop-elect Chad Zielinski, at age 50, will be the 11th youngest of 267 active U.S. Catholic bishops. He will lead 11,000 Catholics who reside in the…

Archbishop’s November Calendar

CatholicAnchor.org Oct.28-Nov.7, Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Nov. 8, 6 p.m., St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School Action, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Nov. 9-13, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting, Baltimore Nov. 20, 9 a.m., Mass, Our Lady of Guadalupe Nov. 20-22, Apostolic administrator duties, Fairbanks Diocese Nov. 22, 5:30 p.m., Native Mass, St. Anthony — …