(Featured image photo credit, Tanya Somerville) The parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg celebrated as Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M. blessed and dedicated the new church and confirmed two parishioners on July 19. The archbishop was joined by the vicar general of the archdiocese, Fr. Pat Travers, and Deacon Mike Monagle from St….
At Holy Name parish in Ketchikan, Catholics aboard the numerous cruise ships touring the Inside Passage can disembark and be shuttled for free to attend Mass. Parishes in Juneau and Haines have offered similar services in the past. This ministry in Ketchikan has brought thousands to Mass over the past 20 years, supported by the…
When Sr. Jean Rhoads, D.C. and Liz Loeffler began their June 2026 trip to Juneau, Haines, Klawock, Ketchikan, and Sitka, they went to seek opportunities for the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau to engage youth, young adult, and Alaska Native Catholics. “We wanted to identify ways to support our youth and young adults,” said Loeffler, archdiocesan director…
(Photo credit for featured image, Tanya Somerville) Today we celebrate the dedication of our new church and the sacrament of Confirmation. Our Confirmandi have dedicated significant time and effort to prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation. Similarly, all of you have prepared diligently to dedicate this new church, which has risen from the ashes of…
As the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau celebrates the Feast of St. John Vianney on Aug. 4, it’s a good time to remember the life of St. John Vianney and to pray for more priestly vocations in the archdiocese. St. John Vianney (1786-1859), patron of parish priests, is revered for his ability to read the hearts of…
Alaska is a state renowned for its natural beauty and wonderous sights, drawing over 3 million visitors annually. The National Shrine of St. Thérèse in Juneau is unique in this regard, calling to people worldwide for its natural and spiritual beauty. Many pilgrims journey to Santiago de Compostela, or walk the streets of Rome and…
El Camino de Santiago (“The Way of St. James”) is one of the oldest pilgrimages in the Catholic Church. The pilgrimage began in the 9th century with a king’s journey to validate a hermit’s claims of finding the bones of St. James at Compostela in Galicia, the northwestern region of Spain. Pilgrims from all over…
On August 10 we celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence. The deacons of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau continue to serve according to his model. St. Lawrence was appointed Archdeacon of Rome in 257 A.D. by Pope Sixtus II. He was in charge of the treasury and riches of the Church, distributing alms to widows and…
Originally published in June 2023 ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Martha Ministry of the Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary held a retreat April 27-30 at the National Shrine of Saint Therese in Juneau. The Martha Ministry, affectionately known as “The Marthas,” typically hosts receptions at the Co-Cathedral parish hall. The ministry’s primary…
Editor’s note: This article was published in the April 2023 issue of the North Star Catholic. The first time I read a book by Jesuit Father Greg Boyle, I was on a long airline flight. As I became immersed in “Tattoos on the Heart,” my seatmates probably looked at me askance. I alternated laughing aloud, then…