Archbishop’s May Calendar
Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz is scheduled to participate and/or attend these events in the month of May.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Six new deacons should ‘hit the ground running’
After five years of formation, six men are on the cusp of the moment when Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz will lay his hands on their heads, invoke the Holy Spirit and ordain them permanent deacons for the service of the church. Family members, friends, priests, religious and fellow deacons are expected to pack Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral on May 1 at 7 p.m. to witness the ordinations.
Vatican approves laicization of former priest of Anchorage Archdiocese
Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz announced that J. Michael Hornick, formerly a priest of the Anchorage Archdiocese has been laicized and has lost his rights and obligations as a cleric for the Roman Catholic Church. The announcement came on April 29 after the Vatican approved the removal of J. Michael Hornick from all priestly duties.
Outgoing principal sees morality, character formation as strength of Catholic schooling
Joy is a word Bailey uses frequently to describe the highlights of his time at the school. Of the things he is most proud of, the spirit of love and inclusiveness among the students is one of them. Normally soft-spoken, Bailey’s voice lowered a bit more when he describes how two students with muscular dystrophy have found nothing but support and acceptance at the school.
Anchorage mayoral candidates debate religious freedom, sexual-identity legislation
In a debate before the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, candidates Ethan Berkowitz and Amy Demboski were sharply divided on the question of whether Anchorage should adapt legislation to establish sexual orientation and transgender identity as protected classes under the city’s nondiscrimination laws.
Alaska cemetery manager remembered as “salt of the earth”
David Belanger, the longtime manager of Catholic cemeteries for the Anchorage Archdiocese, passed away on the morning of Good Friday, April 3, after battling cancer. He was 77. Over the past 15 years he dug scores of graves and laid to rest the bodies and ashes of hundreds of Alaskans, while helping those left behind deal with their loss.
Governor taps Lumen Christi principal for State Education Board
The Alaska Legislature approved Gov. Bill Walker’s nominee, Lumen Christi High School Principal John Harmon, to serve on the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development for the next five years. Confirmed with a 48-11 vote, Harmon will fill Esther Cox’s seat on the nine-member board, which has a mission statement “to ensure quality standards-based instruction to improve academic achievement for all students.”
Anchorage 5th grader’s postcard effort lifts spirits of refugee children
Last year, Scannell hatched the postcard plan — called Any Refugee — and then convinced his fifth grade class in Anchorage to participate by drawing pictures on one side, writing a message on the other, and sending them to refugee children around the world.
Archbishop Schwietz will miss his long-time friend Cardinal George
Cardinal Francis George had planned to be in Alaska this summer to celebrate the 25th year since his long-time friend Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz was ordained a bishop. That visit is not possible now as Cardinal George, 78, passed away April 17 after a long bout with cancer.
Analysis: Time for Alaska to rethink ‘right to privacy’ relating to abortion
Most states took Roe as the final judicial word on abortion. Alaska was no exception. No one expected that a judge would use the right to privacy in Alaska’s constitution to further liberalize abortion, firstly because the United States Supreme Court had the opportunity to do so, and did not.