In an effort to equip parents with the tools to tackle difficult issues related to bringing up faith-filled Catholic children, St. Benedict Church is hosting its second installation of the “Catholic Parenting Discussion Group.”
The Year of Mercy, called for by Pope Francis, ends on Nov. 20, at which time all designated Holy Doors around the world will be closed. Before then, Mat-Su Valley Catholics aim to ride what has been coined “The Mercy Bus” to take one last opportunity to pass through the designated Holy Door at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Big Lake and then visiting all Mat-Su parishes and missions throughout the final week.
Adding to the more than 70 national shrines in the United States, the St. Therese Shrine in Juneau was added by the U.S. bishops to the national list on her Oct. 1 feast day this year.
Project Rachel is an international pro-life outreach with a chapter in Alaska that helps women find healing after abortion. Here Father Michael Shields, a missionary priest from Alaska to Magadan, Russia, talks about the importance of this outreach to suffering women.
A coat of arms, or heraldic achievement, is a centuries-old tradition of creating graphic representations of significant persons, families or countries. Catholic bishops adopted the practice centuries ago when an increasing number of nobles received appointments to the episcopacy, bringing with them their family heraldry. Now, every newly elected bishop receives a coat of arms.
With the upcoming Nov. 9 installation of Bishop Paul Etienne as the new archbishop of Anchorage, the unique role of a bishop will be visibly celebrated in the installation Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Anchorage. There, Archbishop Etienne will assume leadership of the archdiocese as the faithful acknowledge the ancient Catholic teaching that the fullness of holy orders, in all its powers and responsibilities, rests in the hands of the local bishop.
A bishop’s installation is a time-honored tradition in the Catholic Church, and a vivid reminder about one of the faith’s central teachings — apostolic succession — which traces today’s bishops from an unbroken line down to the Twelve Apostles who were commissioned by Christ. With that tenet of the faith in mind, the Anchorage Archdiocese is busy preparing for its new archbishop. It is an occasion area Catholics are encouraged to help celebrate.
From teen shoe salesman in Tell City, Indiana, to archbishop of Anchorage, it seems his life has been full of unexpected turns. That’s how Bishop Paul Etienne of Cheyenne, Wyoming, described his elevation to archbishop and assignment to the Far North. But some people weren’t too surprised the pope chose him for greater responsibilities, namely the family who watched him grow up.
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The installation of Bishop Paul Etienne as the new archbishop of Anchorage will be live streamed on the Catholic Anchor website — CatholicAnchor.org. The installation Mass, in which Archbishop Roger Schwietz will formally hand over leadership of the Anchorage Archdiocese to his successor, will take place on Nov. 9, beginning at 2 p.m.