Seminarian Spencer Hodgson, who has been in formation since 2014 to become a priest for the Anchorage Archdiocese, will take a pivotal step in his journey tonight, June 1, when he participates in the Mass of Candidacy with Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz at 7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Anchorage.
As a young girl growing up in Western Washington, Beverly Walsh didn’t imagine her life ahead: a journey into the Catholic Church, a marriage that would take her to Alaska and produce eight children including a son who is a priest, and a faith commitment that would establish her as a leading woman in the Catholic Church in Southcentral Alaska.
She served in parishes and day homes in California until 1954, when she went to Hawaii. She remained there serving in parishes and missions for 22 years before moving to Alaska where she worked in parishes and missions of Sitka until 1983. She then took time to take a clinical pastoral education program. Returning to Alaska in 1985, Sister Dutra spent the next 20 years in spiritual care in various areas of the Providence Health System in Anchorage.
Youth planning to attend the Alaska Catholic Youth Conference (ACYC) are in for some new surprises and activities. Organizers for the annual conference, held at Lumen Christi High School and Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral from June 6 -9, are aiming for an engaging, uplifting and challenging event — open to middle and high school students.
A recent reflection on the sacrament of confirmation by Bishop Robert Barron as published in the Catholic Anchor got me thinking back on my 26 years confirming Catholics. Conferring the sacrament of confirmation has always been a great joy in my ministry as bishop, but in looking back over the years I can see that my message changed at some point. That is, of course, because the world has changed a great deal since 1990.
On May 6 at Holy Family Cathedral Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz ordained David Van Tuyl as a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Anchorage. Read the full story of his journey in the upcoming June issue of the Catholic Anchor.
A presentation on the alleged relics of Christ will take place Monday, May 16, at Heritage Place in Soldotna. Presented by local historian and former U.S. Senate candidate Bob Bird, who has studied the Shroud of Turin extensively, the talk will examine the scientific and historical evidence for the existence of Christ’s relics.
This spring, Holy Rosary Academy will celebrate the graduation of its largest class in recent years. Seven full-time students, and three part-time students will participate in the 2016 commencement exercises on May 18 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral. The seniors have collectively been offered over $1 million in scholarships from colleges and universities across the country. The following are short profiles of each of the students.
On May 23, Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, a world-renowned commentator on religious issues and guest speaker on EWTN, will be in Anchorage to dust off the Church Fathers and provide a fresh look at these remarkable men.
It’s out with the old and in with the older for a new look at Holy Family Cathedral in downtown Anchorage. Of the many renovations, the most eye-catching upgrade towers above the pews in the form of six 125-year-old stained glass windows. “They could be older than that,” said Dominican Father Anthony Patalano, who is pastor of the cathedral.