Father Fred Bugarin, a long-time pastor who celebrated his 40th anniversary of priesthood for the Archdiocese of Anchorage last year, has officially retired to devote part of his time to working in his native Philippines with an environmental project called “Eco Genesis.”
Father Nelson Marilag died suddenly and unexpectedly on Sept. 20 while serving as a priest in the Diocese of Fairbanks.
A native of the Philippines, he served in the Archdiocese of Anchorage from the time of his arrival from the Diocese of Butuan in 2002, until 2010 when he transferred to serve in the Diocese of Fairbanks as part of an innovative program to share priests across Alaska’s three Catholic dioceses.
“They’ll tell you funny stories and sad stories, and all they really need is someone to listen,” 14-year-old Angela Houser said of her regular visits to the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer. “Just to see them light up when they tell their stories makes me happy.”
Burke, 19, is the oldest of 11 siblings and the son of Toby and Laura Burke of rural Kenai. A product of life-long home-schooling, he is an avid Alaskan hunter and fisherman.
Archbishop Roger Schwietz, who first invited the Korean Missionary Society to Alaska, said he thinks their presence in the state could also benefit the dioceses in Fairbanks and Juneau.
“I was determined to be true and authentic to the ethnicities of these saints,” Swalling said. “I wanted images people would recognize.”
As a new school year begins for teenagers across Alaska, so do tales of new jobs, family vacations and summer adventures. Amidst all the chatter, a small number of students will be recollecting their recent pilgrimage halfway across the world with millions of other young Catholics.
Catholic young people are falling away from the faith at a staggering rate as families and relatives struggle with how best to respond. Catholics United for the Faith in Anchorage invites the public to an evening with Father Michael Shields.
Alaskan parents won a hard fought battle to gain control over what is taught to their children when it comes to sex education.
Religious education methods from 50 or 60 years ago simply aren’t working now. Millennials don’t accept church doctrine and authority just because it’s what they’re supposed to do. They need more. They need reasons to believe and causes to believe in. Unfortunately many parishes fail to offer either.