The North Star Catholic /

Anchorage Catholic school’s science program gets boost

Religion and science are not opposed at Lumen Christi High School in Anchorage. The 7-12 grade Catholic school has built a reputation for innovative science curriculum, while also teaching the tenants of Catholic faith.
The school is hoping to further enhance its science program thanks to a $15,000 grant that teacher Debbie Brewer received earlier this year. Brewer was chosen to take part in a national program that forms mentoring partnerships between high school science teachers and research scientists.

A busy summer at Catholic Social Services in Anchorage

Summers are a busy time at Catholic Social services (CSS). Here’s some of what’s been happening.

We kicked off with a splash at Clare House. The Copper River Seafood Marketing Association donated first-of-the-season Copper River salmon to Clare House. Chef Reuben Gerber of the Crow’s Nest at the Hotel Captain Cook prepared a delicious salmon lunch for the residents. It was delightful to spend time with commercial fisherman Derek Blake and Chef Reuben — both men volunteered their time, talent and treasure to make the day memorable.

Death row confirmation affirms life

Deacon Gornick was there to witness one of Oregon’s most notorious prisoners, Gary Haugen, receive the sacrament. Haugen was convicted and sentenced to death in 2007 for murdering a fellow inmate while serving a life sentence for the murder of his ex-girlfriend’s mother. It’s the mantra of many a death penalty supporter: even in prison these guys are so dangerous they need to be killed.

Open your eyes, climate change is real

My cursory study of local weather science tells me that something is happening on our planet that probably has not happened since the “Big Bang,” that moment in evolutionary history when order was set in place by a benevolent Creator. Thus it has been for trillions of years (earth time) until this most recent age when it has become evident that something is awry.

Diversity in service to God brings unity

Parents have different roles from their children. Teachers have different roles from firefighters. Mothers have different roles from fathers. And individually we also have different personalities that play important roles. But — and this is the important part — amidst our diversity there is an underlying unity that holds us together.

Scholarships boost Catholic education in Alaska

In an effort to promote Catholic education, three Anchorage youth were awarded scholarships for winning essays on the theme: “Jesus loves us; How do we spread that love?”
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas court in Anchorage organizes the annual student essay scholarship. This year the Daughters partnered with the Knights of Columbus council at Holy Family Cathedral, which allowed for an increased number of award winners.

Cathedral welcomes musical seminarian with love for evangelization

Seminarian Brother Thomas Aquinas Pickett, 25, is in Anchorage for his one-year field assignment — a period of training that all Dominican student brothers complete as part of their eight-year formation for the priesthood. A graduate of Gonzaga University and Bishop White Seminary, Brother Pickett has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a passion for utilizing creative ways to spread the Gospel.

Archdiocese lists licit activities for parishes during political season

Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz has issued a list of allowable activities for parishes to engage in during the upcoming political season. The June 6 memo was sent to all parishes and agencies of the archdiocese to remind them of allowable activity during elections.

Letter: What is “just” war?

What does “develop” church teaching mean? What part of the just war doctrine needs to be developed? What does that development consist of? Should church teaching conform to our politics or should our politics conform to church teaching?

A sense of urgency for ‘Young Catholic America’

It’s safe to say that we live in a time when the historic message of Christianity is being drowned out and watered down. Hyper individualism has many believing they can reinvent and reorient their lives however they wish. Belief in fixed moral realities and religious truths are increasingly difficult to swallow and are more likely to be seen as naïve sentiments held by children and those who grew up in a simpler time.