CatholicAnchor.org As a reader of the Catholic Anchor you are a key stakeholder of Catholic Social Services (CSS), and many of you are supportive of me personally. Because of these relationships I want to let you know about my plans to transition from CSS where I have served as executive director for more than eight…
A bulletin board is like a mini-archaeological dig into a person’s life and values. A good bulletin board — or maybe it’s your refrigerator door, or for those organized types, a scrapbook — should change often. It should be organic and evolving.
So what’s on my bulletin board? Lots of family pictures, of course, from various occasions and years, some of them of little folks long grown. Those never fail to tug at my heartstrings.
Readers and friends: The explosive Feast of Pentecost will be upon us soon. I use that word explosive deliberately because that is exactly what happened. Scripture tells us that on the 50th day after the Resurrection of Jesus an event occurred in Jerusalem that could only be described as the Spirit’s descent in wind and fire. That’s a fact.
CatholicAnchor.org Worry captures and holds onto us so that we can’t seem to shake it. The advice, “Don’t worry” seems simplistic when facing a life threatening disease, loss of a job or a breakup of our family. But the call to not worry rests on whom we place our trust in and where we find…
CatholicAnchor.org Safe Environment I am often asked, “When will we stop hearing about reports of abuse or how badly reports were handled by those representing the Roman Catholic Church?” We know there will continue to be reports from the past until all victims are able to come forward. We also know there will continue…
CatholicAnchor.org It has been an exciting past year with Pope Francis becoming the leader of our church. Like many of you, I find great wisdom and inspiration in the pope’s words. The Holy Father helps us to reflect more deeply on how God’s love can open our hearts to solidarity with our neighbors and move…
CatholicAnchor.org A favorite quote of mine comes from George Bernard Shaw: “God created man in his image and then man returned the favor.” We might say the same about how many people try to make the church into the image of the present culture or serve the present political agenda. The left wants the church…
CatholicAnchor.org The introduction of a couple of bills in the Alaska Legislature this session aim to establish a registry where you can file an advance directive for health care, for easy access by health professionals. These measures beg at least a couple of questions. Can an advance health care directive comport with Catholic teachings on…
CatholicAnchor.org Safe Environment “Things have a price and can be sold, but people have dignity; they are worth more than things and are above price….” “In a frail human being, each one of us is invited to recognize the face of the Lord…” Pope Francis spoke these words last year in his address to the…
Ash Wednesday is nearly here! I am quite sure, of course, that you will be delighted to hear that; somebody has to break the news. Ah, but let me break it over you gently: if you are willing to get started a few days early on the annual question, What’cha doing for Lent?