By Effie Caldarola Imagine you’ve been assigned to minister as the only priest in one of the world’s most remote spots. There’s no road system, and the only way to serve thenearly thirty villages in what is called, unofficially, the largest parish on earth, is to fly a single-engine plane over rugged terrain to a…
What is the purpose of the synod? “We recall that the purpose of the synod, and therefore of this consultation, is not to produce documents, but “to plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to flourish, inspire trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awaken a dawn of hope, learn from one another…
The poet Mary Oliver wrote this: “It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world.” Consider all she packs into that statement. It’s great to be alive, but it’s serious. The morning is fresh, perhaps glorious, but the world is broken. What will I do with this…
Dear Fr. Leo, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of purgatory. I believe in a just and merciful God, but this doctrine feels like it forgets that God’s perfect justice was shown by Jesus’ sacrifice, thus also showing His perfect mercy toward all men. While, ultimately, I do believe there…
After seven years, Lisa Aquino, chief executive officer of Catholic Social Services (CSS), is moving on. Her new position as CEO with Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center allows her to continue in the field that aligns with her passion: accessing public health care. Throughout her tenure, Aquino oversaw an agency of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau which…
Dear Fr. Leo: Will I see my dog in heaven? – M Dear M: Roy Rogers once famously quipped, “If dogs don’t go to heaven, when I die, I want to go where they went!” Not a bad thought, but to help answer this question, I like to invoke the theological principle: “Lex orandi, lex…
Below is Archbishop Andrew Bellisario’s homily from the synod mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Oct. 17th: Today is a very special day. Together, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we begin the synod preparation process in our Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. Pope Francis inaugurated a two-year preparation process for the 2023…
By Deacon Mick Fornelli The North Star Catholic At the request of Pope Francis, the next Synod of Bishops will be a three-year journey, with the people of God as the focus. The Holy Father will inaugurate the three-phase synodal journey in the Vatican on October 9- 10, 2021. The following week of October 16-17,…
By Carol Sturgulewski The North Star Catholic Faith in God, in science, and in the future is bringing a generous gift to Lumen Christi Catholic High School students. The Anchorage school has received a $20,000 biotechnology grant from a private family foundation. The foundation made several gifts to programs in southern California this year, but…
By Dominique Johnson The North Star Catholic Almost 50 years ago, Father Dan Hebert arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, as a missionary for the Religious Brothers of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This missionary experience helped lead him to the priesthood and 42 years of service in the archdiocese. Born and raised in Kankakee, Illinois, Father…