Estill Turner previously felt the chapel was “boxy,” but now the eye flows upward and wraps the room cohesively. Stations of the Cross hang low enough to catch Kindergarteners’ interest with the drama of Christ’s Passion and a relic of Saint Pius X graces a corner shelf.
Founded during the First Crusade in the 11th century, the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre were formed as a military order, taking vows of poverty and obedience to the King of Jerusalem. However, the order’s military charism has been defunct for at least 500 years, and was modernized by Pope Pius IX in the 19th century. Since the papacy of Saint John Paul II, the order has been a public association of the faithful per canon law. Its chief charisms are to strengthen the practice of Christian life in its members, to propagate the faith, and to assist the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Catholic Church in the Holy Land.
A thousand years have passed since the first Crusade launched to defend Christians under siege in the land of Christ’s birth. A group of modern-day knights and ladies — including dozens of Alaskans — continue the work as members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. “It all got started in the Holy Land — this is where Jesus was born, grew up, worked, lived, died and rose for us,” Sir Thomas McKiernan told members of Catholic international order of knighthood. “We have been entrusted to maintain the Christian presence there.”
Area Catholic schools are fuller than last year, with more families choosing Catholic education for their children across the Anchorage Archdiocese.
In short, my friends, the word is wisdom, a word from the wise that will save us from ourselves. Unfortunately, at this point in history, there seem not to be sufficient wise-minded people who can help us live at peace with one another, at least for the long haul.
One way to measure a culture is to look at whether respect was shown for the remains of the dead. Remains, millions of years old, recently were discovered in the Raising Star Cave in South Africa.
After having completed two years of discernment and formation the men, along with their wives, gathered last month at Holy Spirit Center in Anchorage with Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz who officiated the Rite of Candidacy. It is one of several milestones the aspiring deacons mark on their way to final ordination.
At the upcoming Anchorage mission, attendees will gather each night at the parish for a series of talks by Father Cameron looking at how one’s Christian life can be transformed by the developments of virtues. Each night, after the mission talks, attendees are invited to an Oktoberfest meal and social in the church basement. Father Cameron will also hear confessions after the mission talk each night. Babysitting will be provided.
The following is a roundup of news briefs, notices and upcoming events from across the Archdiocese of Anchorage.
Judge Suddock explained that “for all practical purposes” his ruling empowers an abortion practitioner “unfettered physician discretion” in determining whether an abortion is medically necessary and thereby eligible for state-funded Medicaid reimbursements.