Anchorage Catholic parenting group explores how to communicate effectively with teens
Below is a recap of the February meeting that dealt with successes, failures, frustrations and ideas on how to improve communication with teens.
EDITOR’S PICKS
The Women’s March and the Body of Christ
“My body, my choice” and “This is My Body.” As I heard this last phrase, I suddenly realized Jesus said something similar.
Lent can be a season to help those most in need
Lent is upon us, and I have been inspired by the words of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in which they call us during this time to devote ourselves to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy that “remind us that faith finds expression in concrete everyday actions meant to help our neighbors in body and spirit.”
Catholic Church, disability groups oppose move to legalize physician assisted suicide in Alaska
Alaska’s highest ranking Catholic prelate who leads 30,000 Catholics in Southcentral Alaska — Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne — has called doctor-prescribed suicide “a violation of principles of good medicine.”
Oregon bill would allow for mentally ill patients to be starved
An Oregon bill on advance medical directive rules could allow patients who suffer from dementia or mental illness to be starved or dehydrated, opponents warned.
Young Alaskans travel 4,000 miles to March for Life
Led by military chaplain Father Peter Pomposello and St. Andrew Church youth minister Ricky Shoop, from Eagle River, five Alaskan youth and one adult chaperone traveled more than 4,000 miles to the nation’s capital to take part in the 44th annual March for Life on Jan. 27
Archbishop calls students to embrace suffering in following Christ
Archbishop Etienne’s homily for this year’s Catholic Schools Mass focused on the Sermon on the Mount, wherein Jesus tells the crowd that the humble, meek and lowly and poor will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The reading ended with Jesus telling his followers that they would suffer because of their faith in him.
Alaska’s missionary to Eastern Siberia to speak on evangelization
Father Michael Shields is scheduled to speak in Anchorage on Feb. 22 about his missionary work in the former Russian gulag work camp, Magadan, where he has served as pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Eastern Siberia for more than 20 years.
May these future U.S. saints pray for and inspire us
Is it possible to love and pray for those who offend us — even our enemies? Is it possible to suffer and find blessings even in persecution? I know of four people on the way to sainthood in the United States who exude such hope.
Asylum & waiting for the coming of ‘Apple Cart’
My friend’s ministry to the undocumented in prison had led her to befriend this man, who had been beaten and threatened by members of El Shabaab, a jihadist terrorist group based in Somalia. My friend offered her home to the man while he awaits another hearing on his asylum plea.