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Alaska deacon finds God’s grace at death’s doorstep

A year ago Deacon Curt Leuenberger lay in an Anchorage hospital surrounded by his wife, family, friends and clergy who gathered to pray, to perform last rites and then to say a final goodbye. The diseased and broken body of this former big game guide who once hunted Kodiak brown bears for a living was shutting down. After 52 years, four children and 10 grandchildren he was unconscious and stretched out on a hospital bed. His life was in the final stages of a premature end, so it seemed.

Nashville Dominican to speak at Theology & Brew

On Friday, Nov. 21, Theology and Brew in Anchorage will host a talk by Sister Joanna Marie of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, also known as the Nashville Dominicans. Alaskans have been acquainted with members of this fast-growing order through the energetic, youthful sisters who have taught at recent Alaska Catholic Youth Conferences. While wearing long traditional Dominican habits, the sisters are known for climbing mountains, playing soccer and generally keeping apace with the youth.

AUDIO: Who is the new Bishop-elect of Fairbanks?

CatholicAnchor.org On Nov. 8, the Diocese of Fairbanks held a press conference to announce that Bishop-elect Chad Zielinski had been chosen to serve as its new bishop. During the press conference Bishop-elect Zielinski shared candid thoughts about the role of a bishop, his shock at being chosen one and how he hopes to serve the…

How is a Catholic bishop chosen?

The ultimate decision in appointing bishops rests with the Pope, and he is free to select anyone he chooses. But how does he know whom to select? The process for selecting candidates for the episcopacy normally begins at the diocesan level and works its way through a series of consultations until it reaches the pope’s desk in Rome.

Military chaplain shocked at being named bishop for Fairbanks

CatholicAnchor.org Pope Francis decision to tapped Father Chad Zielinski to become the new bishop for the Diocese of Fairbanks shocked the active military chaplain at Eielson Air Force Base. Bishop-elect Chad Zielinski, at age 50, will be the 11th youngest of 267 active U.S. Catholic bishops. He will lead 11,000 Catholics who reside in the…

Archbishop’s November Calendar

CatholicAnchor.org Oct.28-Nov.7, Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Nov. 8, 6 p.m., St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School Action, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Nov. 9-13, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting, Baltimore Nov. 20, 9 a.m., Mass, Our Lady of Guadalupe Nov. 20-22, Apostolic administrator duties, Fairbanks Diocese Nov. 22, 5:30 p.m., Native Mass, St. Anthony — …

November Community Calendar

Here is a run down of upcoming events taking place in November across the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska.

Grappling with the suicide of a loved one

As I write this, today might be the anniversary of my brother’s death. We’re not sure what day he died. My family — two brothers, a cousin, my mom and I — had traveled to New York City to do a surprise intervention with my brother. He had become dependent on cocaine, and my mother had secured the help of a fairly pricey interventionist who was going to lead us in confronting Bill and getting him into rehab. Alas, we were too late.

Catholic school students dress as, aspire to be, saints

Students researched specific men and women, all who displayed relentless courage and modeled Christian values for later generations of Christians to follow. Among the saints represented during the recent Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Wasilla, were popes, bishops, kings, queens, soldiers, nuns, nurses, fathers, teachers, mothers, priests and peasants to name but a few.

Mat-Su camp aims to build Catholic culture across generations

A newly formed independent nonprofit, took over the long-standing Camp Challenge from Alaska General Assembly of the Church of God — a group that has operated the summer camp since the mid-1960s. In recent years, however, the Church of God has struggled to keep the camp in operation. In early 2012, St. Benedict Church in Anchorage held its annual teen confirmation retreat at Camp Challenge. Parishioner Rich Owens, owner of the Tastee Freez restaurants in Anchorage, was serving as cook for the winter retreat that year. That’s when he first learned that the camp property might be up for sale. Motivated by a belief that the campground could become an integral part of future youth ministry and the rebuilding of Catholic culture across the Anchorage Archdiocese, Owens helped to form a nonprofit to purchase the camp.