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Public Witness: Alaskans set to walk Stations of the Cross through Anchorage

Hundreds of people are expected to take part in the annual Good Friday Faith Walk on April 3. The annual devotion begins at various points across Anchorage with groups of area faithful walking and praying the Stations of the Cross. As they wind through the city streets, the participants meditate on the steps Jesus Christ took through his Passion and death on the very first Good Friday. The various groups eventually meet together at Anchorage’s Town Square to pray the final stations together with Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz.

Catholic men urged to pray for end to abortion March 19 in Anchorage

Catholic Men for Life, a lay apostolate at Anchorage’s Holy Family Cathedral, has invited all local Catholic men to gather on Saturday, March 19, to peacefully pray for an end to abortion.

The gathering will begin with Mass at 7 a.m. offered by Dominican priest Father Dominic David in the secluded parking area on the west end of 40th Avenue. Following the outdoor Mass, participants will walk over to the sidewalk in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion facility at 4000 Lake Otis Parkway at 8 a.m. for a continuous rosary vigil until 3 p.m.

Answering objections to Christianity, like a Christian

In the midst of a secular society that preaches its doctrines from modern university classrooms and secular media platforms, we need to represent Christianity not as merely a good option, but the very best option for human flourishing and happiness.

Alaskan Catholics carry Body of Christ to the homebound

While the homebound ministers bring the Eucharist to all who make the request, the visits require meeting the recipients on their own terms. It’s wise to call ahead of a visit, the ministers note, and logistics of a visit can include negotiating icy driveways, yapping dogs and other obstacles. Inside the home, however, an underlying protocol of reverence applies.

Anchorage Concert Chorus to perform funeral Mass that sparked hope in Nazi prison camps

Defiant Requiem tells the story of the performance of Verdi’s funeral Mass by 150 prisoners at Terezin, also known as Theresienstadt, a camp in Czechoslovakia where Jewish artists and intellectuals were imprisoned. Dr. Grant Cochran, conductor of the Anchorage Concert Chorus, said the compelling story is what led his group to endeavor to bring the performance to Anchorage’s Performing Arts Center.

National Council of Catholic Women launch Alaska chapter

The group exists to give Catholic women of the country a common voice and an instrument for unified action in matters affecting Catholic or national welfare; to ensure proper recognition of Catholic principles in national committees and national movements affecting the religious, moral and material well-being of the country. The group aims to support the work of existing Catholic women’s organizations in meeting the needs of modern culture.

Abortion healing in Alaska: Church offers support & sacraments

Father Mark Francis has first hand experience of people confessing abortion in the confessional.
“The times that I’ve had a penitent come to confession and acknowledge an abortion, it’s usually after a very long time,” he said. “I immediately think to myself, ‘God be praised that this person has responded to the grace, that nudging, however long it took, and the person is seeking God, seeking forgiveness.’”
“By ‘long time,’ I mean years,” he explained. “At least a year. I can hear the physical sigh or tears beginning. A huge weight is gone.

Bioethicist clarifies Catholic teaching on IVF

The Catholic Church’s stance against artificial birth control is widely known. Perhaps less commonly known is the church’s position on artificial reproductive technology, particularly in vitro fertilization (IVF). On Feb. 10, about 50 people gathered at St. Andrew Church in Eagle River to hear internationally acclaimed bioethicist Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk present the church’s position on in vitro fertilization, its ramifications and some of the alternatives and counsel that may be offered to couples struggling with infertility.

Alaskan priests open up about blessings, challenges of celibate life

Embracing a life of celibacy is not the norm in an American culture saturated by sexual images aimed at selling goods and stirring desires. Nevertheless, the Catholic priesthood continues to draw men to a life of total service to Christ and his church. The Catholic Anchor recently asked several Alaskan priests to share how they came to embrace a calling that entails a vow to lifelong celibacy.

Archdiocese arose, grew & matured between two Alaska earthquakes

Alaska, as we know, is a vast territory abundantly blessed by extravagant displays of nature’s beauty. Those living in Alaska never tire from experiencing the beauty of creation, which can be at the same time inspiring as well as dangerous. So it only makes sense that the origin of the Archdiocese of Anchorage is connected with the work of nature. It was a great earthquake of 1964 — Good Friday — that set in motion the process of establishing the archdiocese.