CatholicAnchor.org As summer 2020 comes to an end, and we prepare for fall, the realization that the COVID pandemic will not be going away anytime soon is evident. We all held the general belief that with a strong effort and response, we could quickly stop this illness, but beating this pandemic requires a strong effort…
CatholicAnchor.org Nothing like a good storm – or maybe an earthquake – to focus your attention. I was heading for the shower on a Monday morning when a huge gust of wind battered the house. Then all went dark, and those consoling, authoritative voices of National Public Radio were silenced. Rats! I hadn’t made my…
CatholicAnchor.org I believe with all my heart. God has put in each of us a desire to do something meaningful. Do you understand what I mean? There are moments when we look at our life and deep down, say to ourselves: I want to do something meaningful in my life. Can you acknowledge that there…
CatholicAnchor.org Have you ever found yourself in the middle of an extraordinary event, whether for work or in a personal situation, where things were so hectic or overwhelming that you found yourself forgetting to drink or eat? In times like this, it is easy to pay less attention to basic needs. This may be why…
CatholicAnchor.org Holy Spirit Center, located in the foothills of the Chugach Mountains on 22 acres, overlooks a sweeping vista of the Anchorage bowl. One of the Archdiocese of Anchorage’s gems is now looking back on nearly 50 years of ministering to the spiritual needs of Alaskans. Today, despite financial challenges over the years, Center director…
CatholicAnchor.org Approximately one-quarter of the deaths in the United States from COVID-19 are attributed to individuals living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. While attending to these folks’ spiritual lives is of concern to administrators and caregivers, the harsh reality is that it is a lower priority than concerted efforts to keep these populations…
By Laurie CourtneyCatholic Anchor St. Christopher Mission was established in 1967 in a double-wide trailer. In those days, it was under the supervision of St. Bernard Parish in Talkeetna. Priests and deacons served both parishes as part of the “circuit.” The parish is currently under the supervision of Sacred Heart Parish in Wasilla. This makes…
CatholicAnchor.org Ed Burke Born and raised in Alaska (Kenai), Ed graduated from the University of Saint Thomas (Saint Paul, MN), with a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies. He has been in formation for four years at the Saint John Vianney College Seminary located on the University grounds. Homeschooled and the oldest of 12…
CatholicAnchor.org As we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 lockdown slowly, the clergy of the Archdiocese in union with Bishop Bellisario have been incrementally opening parish facilities to liturgical and other gatherings using the best practices to protect against the risk of infection. Why the glacial pace of reopening? Why not simply throw open the…
CatholicAnchor.org One evening, returning from my walk, I detoured on to a lot where a new home is under construction, but not yet sold. The house is on my block, and it’s one of the last lots to be filled in my neighborhood. I was curious, a nosy neighbor. So I veered off the sidewalk…