CatholicAnchor.org Just a short month ago, we celebrated the birth of our Lord, born in a manger in a town where his parents traveled to be counted. This counting, or census taking, has long been a part of our human experience. The only change over the centuries is that we don’t have to travel to…
CatholicAnchor.org Kodiak is the first permanent European settlement in Alaska, dating back to the Russian settlement in 1784. In the 1800s, missionaries were able to serve it on rare occasions. With World War II and the establishment of a naval base, the population increased, and land was purchased for a church. The building of the…
CatholicAnchor.org As we welcome 2020, there is, with all New Years, a sense of hope for good things to come. Many start the new year with a resolution in the hope of changing their lives for the better. Statistics show that a small number who report making resolutions say they have been able to keep…
CatholicAnchor.org Going where others can’t or won’t go is a charism Father Frank Reitter, a former Marist priest, brought with him to the Archdiocese of Anchorage and his current parish, St. Mary’s in Kodiak. Going to where he is needed has been a recurring theme of Father Frank’s ministry. Early in his priesthood, he was…
CatholicAnchor.org An archdiocesan dodgeball tournament was originally planned for November 30, 2018. The games were canceled when the large earthquake occurred that day, causing frayed nerves and triggering the sprinklers in the gym that was going to host the event. Thirteen months later, the tournament finally took place at Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage….
CatholicAnchor.org On November 30, 2018, at 8:29 a.m., a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit southcentral Alaska. Hundreds of aftershocks followed, leaving Alaskan residents in recovery mode and uneasy for months to come. November 30 is the feast day of Saint Andrew, and it is no small irony that the parish that suffered the most damage from…
CatholicAnchor.org A simple business card can be the beginning of a journey of healing for someone grieving an abortion loss. Project Rachel, a reconciliation and support system for those who seek to address the traumas one may experience after the elective termination of a pregnancy, has been a lifeline for many. Vicki Thorn founded Project…
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us! Every five years bishops throughout the world are required to travel to Rome in what is called a visit “ad limina Apostolorum” to pray at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul, meet with the Holy…
CatholicAnchor.org By Sister Frances Vista, DC – Director of Catholic Native Ministry The King Island community led the liturgical celebration honoring the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday November 23, 2019 at St. Anthony Parish in Anchorage. The celebration began with the blessing of the four corners of the earth by using sage for…
CatholicAnchor.org As we enter 2020, most of us are dreading the political rancor and divisiveness that grip our nation. We’re fatigued, angry, frustrated. To make matters worse, the American church is in the grip of division as well. Any trip to Catholic social media sites brings criticisms of Pope Francis and other Catholic figures that…