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Are you called to serve the Catholic Church as a deacon?

The name “deacon” means minister or servant. In Scripture, in Acts of the Apostles, we hear of seven good men selected to serve the church community. These seven men needed to be of good reputation, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom, given to prayer and ministry of the Word. These men are considered to be the first deacons of the Catholic Church. Among them was Saint Stephen, who became the first martyr. Their function was to serve at table for the distribution of food and goods to ensure a fair and equal share was received by all widows and orphans of the community.

Alaskan teen hockey players team up to help homeless shelter

Using the Star Wars theme, Dimond (Rebel Alliance) and South (Empire) hockey teams decided to use the game as an opportunity to raise funds and donations for Brother Francis Shelter, the homeless shelter for adults that is run by Catholic Social Services.

Alaska’s three dioceses make changes to marriage nullity cases

In conforming with Pope Francis’ call to reform the annulment process of marriage tribunals around the world, the three dioceses in Alaska have made procedural changes when it comes to declaring whether a sacramental marriage ever took place between a man and a woman. The new process aims to streamline the system for granting annulments, while continuing to affirm the longstanding Catholic recognition that valid marriages are indissoluble.

New annulment process begins in marriage tribunals

The new process is aimed at streamlining the system for granting annulments out of concern “for the salvation of souls” while affirming the longstanding Catholic teaching on marriage indissolubility. Originally announced in September, the changes went into effect Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the opening day of the Jubilee for Mercy.

Alaska pilgrimage sites established for Holy Year of Mercy

During the Jubilee of Mercy, which runs until Nov. 20, an indulgence can be obtained for the faithful who make a pilgrimage to and pass through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome or any of the other papal basilicas in Rome. Additionally indulgences can be obtained by passing through the Holy Door of any shrine, cathedral or church designated by the local bishop.

Holy Doors offer Alaskans an encounter with mercy

December 8 marked a historic moment for Catholics in Alaska and around the world. In addition to observing the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the day when Catholics celebrate Mary’s preservation from original sin before her birth, Catholics around the globe gathered to mark the launch of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Community Calendar for Anchorage Archdiocese

The following liturgies and community events are slated to take place in January in the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska.

News & upcoming events across Anchorage Archdiocese

CatholicAnchor.org The following news briefs and event notices appear in the January issue of the Catholic Anchor, the official newspaper and news website for the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska. Search continues for longest married couple in Alaska Worldwide Marriage Encounter, the Christian marriage enrichment program, is launching its annual search for the longest married…

Discovering hope in a violent age

In these most recent times we recall violent events in such places as Baltimore, Ferguson, death in an Oregon classroom, death of a black teenager on a Chicago street, death at an abortion facility in Colorado Springs and, last but not least, the killing of fourteen innocent Christmas celebrants in San Bernardino, California. Perhaps T.S. Eliot had come upon some deep mystery when he said that we keep coming back to our beginnings, hoping that we will discover some meaning in the events that face us, as though for the first time.

Anchorage Archbishop’s Jan. Calendar

CatholicAnchor.org Jan. 1, 5-8, 12, 15 – 9 a.m., Mass, St. Andrew Jan. 2, 9, 16 – 3:30 p.m., Reconciliation, St. Andrew Jan. 2, 9, 16 – 5:30 p.m., Mass, St. Andrew Jan. 3, 10, 17 – 10 a.m., Mass, St. Andrew Jan. 3, 10, 17 – 7 p.m., Mass, St. Andrew Jan. 18-21, Episcopal…