More than 400 Catholic school students have filled the hallways, classrooms and chapels of the five schools located in the Anchorage Archdiocese. With the start of the new academic year, educators are offering a variety of options to Alaskan parents seeking to provide their children a faith-based educational alternative to public schools.
People who experience significant barriers to employment, such as lack of education or a criminal history, do not have that positive aspect to their lives. At Brother Francis Shelter (BFS) we work with many in this situation. As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reminds us, work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation.
But that further points to the fact that the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration must act together to provide solid, comprehensive immigration reform, and must present a unified face in deterring misunderstandings across our borders. It’s time to stop playing politics with this problem.
In his recent homily the pope posed a stark question: “When I give alms, do I drop the coin without touching the hand (of the poor person, beggar)? And if by chance I do touch it, do I immediately withdraw it?”
Catholic charity is not a matter of mere correct belief — it’s touching the flesh of the poor and thereby loving the Body of Christ.
Today this eminent Montessori approach is nurturing the faith of thousands of toddlers to tweens worldwide. Since its founding in 1954, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has flourished in 37 countries and more than 1,250 locations in the U.S., including adapted versions in Episcopal and Orthodox settings. Yet in the Archdiocese of Anchorage, CGS subsists only as a little known gem within St. Patrick Church and on a limited basis at Holy Family Cathedral, both in Anchorage.
Check out upcoming news and events from across the Archdiocese of Anchorage.
Common for many of us “baby boomers” were the understood, yet little discussed, social and family norms — especially those with regards to sexuality. As a society, certain social issues were not discussed even if everyone knew there was a problem, such as alcoholism, marital trouble, mental health concerns or sexual abuse of some kind. It’s not that these problems were always ignored or went without assistance. But the problem with keeping these topics out of conversation, even private conversations among parents and their children, is that children were not given the tools to address these issues or to seek help with them.
The lead up to this dramatic visit was interesting. While temperatures soared during the well-orchestrated Mass in Bethlehem’s Manger Square, it was stirring to watch Pope Francis live up to his reputation for spontaneity by unscheduled gestures of solidarity with both Palestinians and Israelis.
It is attractive to live humbly. The most attractive person on the earth showed us the kind of strength that flows from a deeply humble life. Jesus did not give up greatness, power or glory by submitting to meekness. Rather his power and greatness are found in and through his meekness. That is attractive.
Some of these teens express a mental and spiritual atrophy, coupled with loneliness and helplessness at the prospect of changing their behavior. As pleasure-seeking becomes habituated, the brain is re-wired, met by a heightened tolerance and increasing despair. It would be difficult to overstate the urgency or depth of this concern as it was revealed by many ACYC attendees. To witness the helplessness teens feel in resisting the temptation to play video games or text message is to wonder how they’ll fair in adult life.