Dear Fr. Leo: You are a canon lawyer. I have a sister who recently got divorced and is thinking of going through an annulment. I have a two-part question. What is the status of divorced Catholics? Specifically, can they receive Holy Communion? Regarding the annulment, what is that all about? Will this mean her kids…
This month we find ourselves focusing on our children and young families as schools reopen for the fall. Back to school is often full of excitement, joy, and sometimes worry. Many parents purchase school supplies, read to their children, practice ABCs, and much more – all in preparation for their child’s first day back. All…
Have you ever been invited to Bill Gates’ house? Neither have I, so I was intrigued by a 2018 article in Business Insider, which gave a glimpse into his digs. The place was valued at $127 million back then. It boasted a 2500 square foot exercise facility, including a trampoline room with 20-foot ceilings, a…
By Father Steve Gallagher The North Star Catholic If you’re flying the “milk run,” Wrangell is the second northbound stop in the panhandle – after Ketchikan. The actual town of Wrangell is located on the northwest coast of Wrangell Island, accessible only by water or air. Saint Rose of Lima is the center of the…
By Dave Ringle St. Vincent de Paul Juneau, General Manager I didn’t know Dan Austin well. One of his closest friends asked me to join the Juneau St. Vincent de Paul board on Father’s Day 2018. None of us knew that five weeks later, Dan would pass away. I did not know the circumstances at…
By Effie CaldarolaThe North Star Catholic The Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau will welcome its newest priest when 33-year-old Madison Hayes is ordained at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe on August 6. Although Hayes has family ties to Alaska, he didn’t grow up in the state. Originally from Merced, California, he spent 16 years as…
By Dominique JohnsonThe North Star Catholic When Sacred Heart Parish in Wasilla was built 22 years ago, two arches were included behind the altar to include artwork in the sanctuary. Father Joseph McGilloway shared that he wanted to complete the vision when he was assigned pastor of the parish. In June, the idea was realized…
By Annette AllevaThe North Star Catholic On the glorious spring morning of June 12, about 30 women, members of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA), Court St. Pius X #1866, gathered at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe to celebrate 60 years of service. They were joined by family members, friends, supporters, and…
By Scott McMurren Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are here. But Alaskans are rarely content with just soda and pretzels and beer. With apologies to Nat King Cole, the standout quality for a great Alaska summer is kicking your travel plans into high gear. While traveling far and near, it’s always a treat…
By Janet WashamThe North Star Catholic St. Michael Parish in Palmer, Alaska, was founded in May 1935. The parish started to serve the colonists moving to Alaska as part of the Matanuska Colony Project, a United States Government New Deal Project in which families from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan settled into the Matanuska Valley and…