“Understanding how the Gospel message is relevant in the commercial sphere is critical to overcoming a divided life whereby a Christian purports to operate under one set of values at home and another at work or in the market.” That was part of the message from an Oct. 13 talk given by Dominican Brother Thomas More Garrett at Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage.
Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Anchorage are exploring ways to expand their classes beyond traditional full time students. The idea is to give students greater options in Catholic education by allowing students, often homeschoolers, to enroll on a part-time basis. Part-timers can pick certain classes without being enrolled at the school full-time. Tuition is pro-rated.
A year ago Deacon Curt Leuenberger lay in an Anchorage hospital surrounded by his wife, family, friends and clergy who gathered to pray, to perform last rites and then to say a final goodbye. The diseased and broken body of this former big game guide who once hunted Kodiak brown bears for a living was shutting down. After 52 years, four children and 10 grandchildren he was unconscious and stretched out on a hospital bed. His life was in the final stages of a premature end, so it seemed.
CatholicAnchor.org On Nov. 8, the Diocese of Fairbanks held a press conference to announce that Bishop-elect Chad Zielinski had been chosen to serve as its new bishop. During the press conference Bishop-elect Zielinski shared candid thoughts about the role of a bishop, his shock at being chosen one and how he hopes to serve the…
CatholicAnchor.org Pope Francis decision to tapped Father Chad Zielinski to become the new bishop for the Diocese of Fairbanks shocked the active military chaplain at Eielson Air Force Base. Bishop-elect Chad Zielinski, at age 50, will be the 11th youngest of 267 active U.S. Catholic bishops. He will lead 11,000 Catholics who reside in the…
A newly formed independent nonprofit, took over the long-standing Camp Challenge from Alaska General Assembly of the Church of God — a group that has operated the summer camp since the mid-1960s. In recent years, however, the Church of God has struggled to keep the camp in operation. In early 2012, St. Benedict Church in Anchorage held its annual teen confirmation retreat at Camp Challenge. Parishioner Rich Owens, owner of the Tastee Freez restaurants in Anchorage, was serving as cook for the winter retreat that year. That’s when he first learned that the camp property might be up for sale. Motivated by a belief that the campground could become an integral part of future youth ministry and the rebuilding of Catholic culture across the Anchorage Archdiocese, Owens helped to form a nonprofit to purchase the camp.
Where does the authority to make law come from? What role have Catholics played in shaping the laws of the United States? And how should bishops address Catholic politicians who act contrary to church teaching? These were some of the topics broached during the Archdiocese of Anchorage’s annual Red Mass on Sept. 28. Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz invited Juneau Bishop Edward Burns to deliver the Red Mass homily at Holy Family Cathedral and to then speak at length to Alaskan politicians, legislators, judges and lawyers at a subsequent brunch at the Marriott Hotel.
As part of an effort to inform Alaskans about candidates and their positions on issues important to Catholic voters, the Catholic Anchor solicited responses to a questionnaire from the four candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives: incumbent Republican candidate Don Young, Democrat candidate Forest Dunbar, Libertarian candidate Jim McDermott and Republican candidate John Cox.
While the synod certainly included energetic debates on how to best reach out to those who have suffered from divorce and those who live with same-sex attraction, in the end there was a resounding affirmation of the church’s long-standing teachings on these important issues. We must not be surprised if the church is unbending in affirming long-standing teachings even as it grapples with new applications. This is the kind of institution Christ established — a living church that moves through the variables of history while always inviting, urging and challenging each new generation to embrace the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ.
As part of an effort to inform Alaskans about candidates and their positions on issues important to Catholic voters, the Catholic Anchor solicited responses to a questionnaire from the seven candidates running for U.S. Senate: Incumbent Democrat Senator Mark Begich, Republican candidate Dan Sullivan, Libertarian candidate Mark Fish, non-affiliated candidate Ted Gianoutsos, Republican candidate Sean Godfrey, non-affiliated candidate Sidney Hill and Republican candidate John Jaramillo. Only Ted Gianoutsos and Sean Godfrey responded to the questionnaire. Wherever possible, the Catholic Anchor has included the positions of candidates who did not respond to the questionnaire.