A group of young adult Alaska Natives from the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau and Diocese of Fairbanks ventured to Chicago in late June for a synodal process event to dis- cuss their hopes for the Catholic Church’s future. From the archdiocese, Sister Frances Vista and two Alaska Native residents of Anchorage, Jenay Mike, and Jessica Hunt,…
Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Big Lake has roots as deep as the archdiocese. Its first church building was completed and dedicated in 1966, the same year that Pope Paul VI established the Archdiocese of Anchorage and appointed Archbishop Joseph Ryan as its first archbishop. It was to be a baptism of fire…
Six men from St. Michael Parish in Olympia, Washington, traveled to Wrangell for a week to help parishioners remodel the St. Rose of Lima Parish hall in early June. “Please offer a prayer for each of them and their needs,” said Father Steven Gallagher on Facebook about the “Missionary Six,” as he calls them —…
Deacon Gary Horton, one of the earliest permanent deacons to serve the former Diocese of Juneau, died on May 16, 2022. He was 85 years old. A funeral Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Juneau on June 8. Deacon Horton was interred at the columbarium at…
Upon the end of the diocesan phase of the synod on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau celebrated the synod closing Mass, which brought archdiocesan parishes and their parishioners’ respective cultures together for the first time since the new archdiocese was unified in September 2020. During the Mass, which was held at the…
The Little Sisters of Jesus, who have been crucial to the growth of Catholic communities across the globe, will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its founder’s arrival to Alaska in August. The first community of the Little Sisters of Jesus was started by Sister Magdeleine Hutin in 1939. They follow in the footsteps of Saint…
Lumen Christi High School celebrated commencement at the school gymnasium in Anchorage on May 5. The class of 2022 is the 24th class to graduate from Lumen, and they tie the class of 2011 for the largest graduating class in school history with 16 seniors. Nine of the graduates attended St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic…
The adventures of Father Bartholomew “Fr. Bart” Hutcherson’s, O.P., missionary and photographic travels across Alaska resulted in the release of his first book, “For the Beauty of the Earth: Experiencing the Glory of God in the Wonders of the 49th State,” on May 6. The shutterbug priest hosted a book launch party that day at…
Do you think the Catholic Church in the United States can rebuild confidence and trust in the people of God after learning of or experiencing the abuse crisis? If so, how? As of June, it is 20 years since the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops gathered in Dallas to discuss and act upon the…
The Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau ordained four men to the Permanent Diaconate on May 13. The new deacons — John Agosti from St. Anthony Parish, Sandon Broek from Holy Cross Parish, John Ostrom from St. Patrick’s Parish, and Don Remer from St. Andrews Parish — were ordained by Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., at the Cathedral of…