The feast day of the Queen and Patroness of Alaska, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, was celebrated Oct. 1 in Juneau. Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M. was joined by Bishop of Fairbanks Steven Maekawa, O.P., and Fr. Mike Galbraith in celebrating Mass at the National Shrine of St. Thérèse, assisted by Deacon Mike Monagle. Jay Shaw, a…
An Eagle River parish reached a milestone of 1,000 prayer shawls created by a faithful group of 20-plus women over the past 11 years. Dolores Coates of St. Andrew parish in Eagle River keeps a book of the Prayer Shawl Ministry. It is not a ledger, but rather a record of first names, no…
I learned respect for life from my family. My parents cared for our family, but their care and actions to protect and nurture life extended well beyond the immediate family. The practice of their faith, attendance at Mass, life within their parish, and outreach to the poor taught us the necessity of caring for the…
JUNEAU — The turkeys were ordered in June. That’s how far ahead the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Juneau has to plan to put a complete Thanksgiving dinner on the tables of hundreds of Juneau and Douglas households, said Mollie Carr, the organization’s executive director. Each June, organizers look at the previous year’s…
The Holy Spirit Center in Anchorage can open one’s ears to God’s calling: a vocation. Derived from the Latin word for “to call,” a person’s vocation is the way they are called by God to express their love for Him through their daily acts and thoughts. Some are called to build families in love as…
The Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau have long been a cornerstone of faith formation, academic excellence, and service to the community. Yet for many families, the cost of tuition can place a Catholic education beyond reach. The Education Freedom Tax Credit offers a powerful solution by creating scholarship opportunities for students while providing…
The Catholic Church celebrates many great and well-known saints in October: our patroness, Thérèse of Lisieux (Oct. 1); the famous Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4); the very popular, and modern Carlo Acutis (Oct. 12); and Luke the Evangelist (Oct. 18). The month is full with other wonderful saints as well as the Feast of Our…
Forty-eight years ago, on November 4, 1978, I professed my final vows as a Vincentian: poverty, chastity, obedience, and stability (the commitment to remain a Vincentian for life). Over the years, people occasionally ask me which of the vows is the most difficult to live. Each time I am asked that question, I believe the…
Molly McManamin began her role as principal of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School in Anchorage this fall. She brings years of experience, gratitude, and a desire to continue to guide the school toward excellence. McManamin is a third-generation Alaskan born in Anchorage. She attended university in Tacoma and returned to begin her career and…
Michelle Waclawski began her role as Executive Director of Holy Spirit Center in Anchorage on July 14. Over the course of eight weeks, from mid-June to mid-August, she oversaw operations as over 1000 volunteer hours contributed to clearing weeds, putting new coats of paint on walls, and unveiling the years of love and care that…