Deacon Gary Horton, one of the earliest permanent deacons to serve the former Diocese of Juneau, died on May 16, 2022. He was 85 years old. A funeral Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Juneau on June 8. Deacon Horton was interred at the columbarium at…
Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., announced that Vicar General Father Patrick “Fr. Pat” Travers will be the new chief operating officer and chancellor for the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. He replaces John Harmon, who retires later this month after serving the church in Alaska for 10 years. “As the archdiocese moves forward, we are fortunate to have…
The Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau welcomes Jay Luzardo as its new communications specialist and editor of the North Star Catholic. “Alaska is huge, and each region is special in its own way,” he said. “I hope I can manage to consistently share stories for each region so we can fully understand how special this Catholic community…
By Molly Cornish In late August, the world watched a crisis unfold at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan. News crews and cell phones captured footage of families fleeing for their lives, many with children and infants in tow, many forced to leave their families behind. Afghan evacuees fled their homes, most at a moment’s notice, for…
By Gregory and Kathleen Fast An Alaskan husband and wife were one of 50 Retrouvaille couples based in North America who were invited to meet Pope Francis at the Paul VI Audience Hall in Rome on Nov. 6. In his address to the Retrouvaille assembly, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude and offered words of encouragement…
What is the purpose of the synod? “We recall that the purpose of the synod, and therefore of this consultation, is not to produce documents, but “to plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to flourish, inspire trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awaken a dawn of hope, learn from one another…
By Deacon Mick Fornelli The North Star Catholic At the request of Pope Francis, the next Synod of Bishops will be a three-year journey, with the people of God as the focus. The Holy Father will inaugurate the three-phase synodal journey in the Vatican on October 9- 10, 2021. The following week of October 16-17,…
By Deacon Madison Hayes The North Star Catholic After a brief excursion through the Inside Passage on the Alaska Marine Highway during the winter of 2013 from Bellingham to Haines, I always desired to return and experience the Church among the communities of Southeast. This summer, I was blessed to finally have this opportunity as…
By Carol Sturgulewski The North Star Catholic Faith in God, in science, and in the future is bringing a generous gift to Lumen Christi Catholic High School students. The Anchorage school has received a $20,000 biotechnology grant from a private family foundation. The foundation made several gifts to programs in southern California this year, but…
By Catholic Extension Catholic Extension’s Lumen Christi Award honors an individual or group working in an Extension Diocese who demonstrates how the power of faith can transform lives and communities. The Lumen Christi Award is accompanied by a grant for the honoree and his or her nominating diocese to be used for enhancing a specific…