I finally came home to the church
At weddings and funerals for Dotty’s family members, I experienced my first glimpses into the mysterious, ancient church. My reasons for not entering the church felt small, by comparison.
FEATURED
Fr. Shields: It is time for us to go public with the joy of the Gospel
Pope Francis is asking for a public faith, not a private one that only serves oneself. You are not to become holy for yourself but for others. We are called to preach, teach, defend and share the joy of the Gospel.
Miss Alaska is cradle Catholic with a message of compassion
“You place a crown on your head, and people are interested in what you have to say,” observed reigning Miss Alaska Angelina Klapperich. “It’s a very unique opportunity, and I want to make as much use of that as I can and spread good messages.”
Producer of St. Paul movie set to speak in Anchorage
A screening of the new movie ‘Paul, Apostle of Christ’ will take place in Anchorage at the Lumen Christi High School gym, followed by a question and answer session with the executive producer, Eric Groth.
Anchorage’s first archbishop enticed Thomas Merton to Alaska
In 1968, with the country besieged by political upheaval, Father Thomas Merton — a Trappist monk — under the sponsorship of the new Archdiocese of Anchorage, set off for the peaceful wilds of Alaska for 17 days
Kodiak teacher gives back to alma mater with a sense of purpose
Maggie Schmitt grew up as a student walking the hallways of St. Mary’s Catholic School on Alaska’s Kodiak Island where she attended pre-school through eighth grade. From a young age she wanted to work with children. Six years ago she returned to her alma mater as an elementary teacher.
Rome pilgrimage seeks to connect young adults to the heroes of the Catholic faith
Anchorage Archbishop Emeritus Roger Schwietz will lead a pilgrimage for young adults this fall to the eternal city of Rome. The Oct. 27 to Nov. 4 trip takes place over All Saints and All Souls days with a focus on saints who were foundational in the development of the Catholic Church.
Youth conference aims to boost faith of Alaska teens
From June 3-6, teens from across the state will rally in Anchorage for the annual Alaska Catholic Youth Conference. The Catholic Anchor caught up with the Archdiocese of Anchorage’s Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Matthew Beck to learn more about what to expect from the upcoming gathering.
Each and every member of the body of Christ is a gift
It is late April as I write this column. Our parish listening sessions, which are nearly complete — three to go — are revealing many things. I am hearing about the challenges we face as church, a wide variety of perspectives, some hope and gratitude, and a fair amount of frustration and disappointment.
Missionary team looks to reignite faith across Southcentral Alaska
One aspect of the summer missions will be reaching out to those who have abandoned their involvement with the church. “The most important thing in the church today is mission. It’s the church’s main task. Pope Francis has been classic about this: We have to go out. We can’t just be a kind of Catholic ‘club.’