CatholicAnchor.org Approximately one-quarter of the deaths in the United States from COVID-19 are attributed to individuals living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. While attending to these folks’ spiritual lives is of concern to administrators and caregivers, the harsh reality is that it is a lower priority than concerted efforts to keep these populations…
By Laurie CourtneyCatholic Anchor St. Christopher Mission was established in 1967 in a double-wide trailer. In those days, it was under the supervision of St. Bernard Parish in Talkeetna. Priests and deacons served both parishes as part of the “circuit.” The parish is currently under the supervision of Sacred Heart Parish in Wasilla. This makes…
CatholicAnchor.org Ed Burke Born and raised in Alaska (Kenai), Ed graduated from the University of Saint Thomas (Saint Paul, MN), with a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies. He has been in formation for four years at the Saint John Vianney College Seminary located on the University grounds. Homeschooled and the oldest of 12…
CatholicAnchor.org As we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 lockdown slowly, the clergy of the Archdiocese in union with Bishop Bellisario have been incrementally opening parish facilities to liturgical and other gatherings using the best practices to protect against the risk of infection. Why the glacial pace of reopening? Why not simply throw open the…
CatholicAnchor.org One evening, returning from my walk, I detoured on to a lot where a new home is under construction, but not yet sold. The house is on my block, and it’s one of the last lots to be filled in my neighborhood. I was curious, a nosy neighbor. So I veered off the sidewalk…
CatholicAnchor.org July is a time to celebrate our nation. It’s also a time to celebrate and honor the brave men and women who serve our country each day. These heroes are dedicated to something bigger than themselves – the good of our entire nation. These heroes fight for justice and deserve justice themselves. Many of…
CatholicAnchor.org Since the end of May, there has been consistent protesting about the evil of racism in our country. The protests have led to greater and broader discussions about how racism is manifested by creating and allowing unjust systems that threaten the health and safety of our brothers and sisters of color. During a protest,…
CatholicAnchor.org The call of Mary in the Gospel is the most important in the bible. God gives us all freedom and does not force anyone to follow him. Even Mary was free to say yes or no. God provides us with a choice in our call to serve him as well. Today, I pray that…
By Father Pat TraversDiocese of Juneau Ever since Pope Francis announced on May 19, 2020 that Bishop Andrew Bellisario of Juneau would become the archbishop of a new Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau, many of us have had questions as to what this means and how it will come about. Especially now, while we are transitioning to…
On May 19, 2020, Pope Francis merged the Archdiocese of Anchorage and the Diocese of Juneau and erected the new ecclesiastical circumscription of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. At the same time, he named the current bishop of Juneau and apostolic administrator for Anchorage, Andrew E. Bellisario, C.M. as the first metropolitan archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau. The…