2020 is a year that none of us will ever forget. The challenges faced by all of us, as organizations, parishes and individuals, were unanticipated and beyond what any of us could have conceived. Illness and uncertainty followed all of us this year. And the most vulnerable—those in poverty, elders, the ill, and children, were…
“May we be in this world a ray of that light which shone forth from Bethlehem, bringing joy and peace to the hearts of all men and women.” Pope Francis This message from Pope Francis during Advent of 2013 to the crowds in St. Peter’s Square is just as relevant now as it was then,…
Advent is a season of great hope! It prepares us for the Second Coming of Christ and celebrates the Nativity of Christ at Christmas. With themes of faith, hope, longing, preparation, and determination, Advent calls us to wait with faith and hope; to prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Every…
By Annette AllevaThe North Star Catholic The season of giving associated with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays can be one of great joy for those with means and a generous heart. For those whose needs for the most basic elements of survival know no season, it can cause hardship and anxiety. Traditionally, churches and social…
The North Star Catholic Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Catholic Schools within the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau were able to provide in-person learning to students for most of this past semester, albeit in a very structured environment with thoughtful mitigation plans. And it was with these plans that the schools have been able to help keep…
By Dominique JohnsonThe North Star Catholic Father Pat Casey, OMI, began considering a vocation in the priesthood when he was in seventh grade while attending Catholic school in Los Angeles, California. He wouldn’t enter seminary until later in life, but on December 30th, the 73 year old priest, will celebrate his 40th ordination anniversary. He…
By Bonnie BezousekThe North Star Catholic Located in the Turnagain neighborhood near the Anchorage International Airport, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrates its 50th anniversary as a parish faith community this year. Founded in 1970, the parish first met in the Turnagain Elementary School gym. Later they rented from the Turnagain United Methodist…
By Cece LihouThe North Star Catholic There has been a continuous worshiping presence on the same block of Fifth Street in Juneau since 1885 when Fr. John Althoff built the first Catholic Church in the capital city. The Sisters of St. Ann arrived shortly after that, establishing a hospital and school. The present church of…
By Dominique JohnsonThe North Star Catholic Once a month, Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., leads an hour of prayer to invite the faithful of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau to pray together via livestream. During his November hour of prayer, the archbishop asked the people of the archdiocese to join to pray for healing and protection for…
By Anna SchultenThe North Star Catholic As 2020 draws to a close, we spend an Advent season preparing our hearts to receive Christ ever more fully this Christmas season. As Catholics, our lives do not exist in isolation: we come to faith and grow in relationship with God in the context of a Christian community….