The North Star Catholic / FEATURED Archives - Page 108 of 120

Jesuit priest helped preserve language for Alaska Natives

Father Jules Jette (1864-1927) made good on his high standards. As a missionary priest coming to Alaska in 1898, his primary role meant conversions and baptisms among the Athabaskans, but as a scholar, he wanted to chronicle the multitudinous complexities of the Koyukon Athabaskan language and culture. As a humanitarian who loved the Ten’a people, the melding of those two vocations meant Father Jette was uniquely able to bestow a lasting gift on Alaska’s unknown future:

Bill advances to ban abortion groups from teaching in Alaska schools

A bill aimed at giving parents greater freedom in directing the education of their children, including the right to opt out of standardized tests and controversial sex instruction classes, has been amended to prohibit Planned Parenthood and other organizations that perform abortions from teaching in public schools.

Preaching even when it’s “out of season”

Today, I will look at marriage as a case study involving huge social attitude changes over the past few years and the task we face in the future. I will look at mistakes that have been made, the impact that rapid changes in the social order have had on society and individuals and I will suggest an approach for preaching on marriage when it is “out of season.”

Alaska Parental rights in education bill set for public hearing

A bill ensuring a parent’s rights to direct the education of their child in regards to any instruction relating to “human reproduction, health, or sex education,” is scheduled for a public hearing in the Alaska Legislature on April 9 at 9 a.m. Introduced by Sen. Mike Dunleavy, Senate Bill 89 requires local school boards to adopt policies that “promote the involvement of parents in the school district’s education program.”

Bill to legalize assisted suicide in Alaska scheduled for public comment

bill to legalize doctor-prescribed suicide in Alaska has been scheduled for public testimony, via teleconference, on Thursday, April 9 at 3 p.m. House Bill 99, sponsored by Anchorage Democrats Rep. Harriet Drummond, Rep. Andy Josephson and Rep. Max Gruenberg, would permit doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to patients for the purpose of suicide.

Alaskans among least likely to attend church

A recent Gallup poll confirms previous reports that Alaska is one of the nation’s least religious states. According to the most recent poll, nearly three out of four Alaskans say they do not attend weekly religious services and almost 60 percent say they seldom or never attend religious services.

Alaska couples address misconceptions of Catholic birth regulation

Why do many Catholic women – including Alaskans – use contraception? Area experts say couples aren’t hearing enough at church, from their doctors, or at home about Natural Family Planning (NFP), the natural and ethical way to regulate the birth of children. Lana Persson of Anchorage said she has never heard a homily on NFP. There was no mention of it in her catechism class before she converted to Catholicism as an adult.

Easter images from across Alaska

To view Holy Week and Easter images from across the Archdiocese of Anchorage, check out the Catholic Anchor Facebook page here.

Husband, kids to join mom as Catholics

“I hadn’t ever been to a Catholic Church before,” Glenn Crocker recalls. “I was interested in it and started RCIA, and it spoke to me. I really enjoy the classes. I’ve been going every Tuesday. I never walk away from it regretting that I came. I learn so much. It’s one thing I think you don’t get so much in the Baptist church or other denominations. Yes, you get some, but it’s more localized and less consistent.”

Beloved Catholic cemetery manager & grave digger dies

Editor’s note: Much beloved Dave Belanger, the longtime manager of Catholic cemeteries for the Anchorage Archdiocese, passed away on the morning of Good Friday after a long struggle with cancer. Below is a Catholic Anchor article which appeared in 2007 featuring Dave and his wife Priscilla who both spent countless hours burying the dead and caring for those who were left behind.