Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz is encouraging parents to enroll their children in the archdiocese’s safe environment program, “Circle of Grace.” The program provides information to children about their value and sacredness and the importance of asking people they trust to help them when they feel mistreated or when they are exposed to things that make them uncomfortable.
The following is a listing of events and liturgies that Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz plans to attend and celebrate in the month of October.
Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz has extended an invitation to area Catholics to attend the Oct. 8 St. Francis Stewardship Awards in Anchorage. The annual banquet honors Alaskans who serve the church in the spirit of Saint Francis.
On Feb. 11, 1779 two Spanish ships slipped away from the dock at San Blas, Mexico and sailed into the dark toward Alaska. Three Catholic priests had joined the perilous mission — Father Juan Antonió Garcia Riobó and Father Matiás de Santa Catalina Noriega, Franciscans from Mexico, and Father Cristóbal Antonio Díaz, a secular priest from Peru.
There are scenes of parish celebrations, children’s programs, liturgies, church dedications and most evident, the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, first communion, matrimony and even ordinations. The inclusion of the various cultural groups and celebration with Alaska Natives in church as well as in their communities is very evident, too.
In less than a year, a group of Alaskans will head to Kraków, Poland with millions of youth from around the world for the World Youth Day gathering with Pope Francis. According to local organizers, those intending to make the pilgrimage need to register soon in order to guarantee a spot.
To the delight of some and the dismay of others, the meaning of marriage in the civil sphere is no longer what it once was, and in this sense, the legal institution of marriage has been “redefined.” But it may be more accurate, more descriptive, to say that the Supreme Court has furthered the deconstruction of this venerable institution. Reading through the majority opinion of the Court, one often encounters the phrase “right to marry” but struggles to understand how this means anything more than the right to be friendly companions.
A prominent national pro-life organization is urging Alaskans to contact U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, urging her to support the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Introduced in June by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) the measure would ban most abortions after 20-weeks. The bill passed the House in May with a bipartisan margin of 242-184.
The Boy Scouts of America took the final step in July to lift its ban on Scout leaders who openly profess homosexuality – but many gay activists decried the change for not going far enough. The BSA executive committee passed a resolution to lift the ban and then on July 27, the National Executive Board ratified the decision, with 79 percent of the board’s 80 members agreeing.
Here is a listing of news and upcoming events from around the Anchorage Archdiocese.