Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Big Lake has roots as deep as the archdiocese. Its first church building was completed and dedicated in 1966, the same year that Pope Paul VI established the Archdiocese of Anchorage and appointed Archbishop Joseph Ryan as its first archbishop. It was to be a baptism of fire…
I often describe the work of the ministry of safe environment for the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau, but this work could not be accomplished without the dedication of the parishes’ and schools’ safe environment coordinators (SEC). Each parish has an SEC who ensures that your parish is following the safe environment policies for the archdiocese. Expressing…
Dear Fr. Leo, What does the church teach about tattoos? I was always told it was forbidden. — A Dear A, Believe it or not, there is nothing in the Catechism that forbids tattoos per se. There is a text from Leviticus 19 that some look to for such a prohibition, but when viewed in the…
There’s a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee, and in its midst, a nearly capsized boat full of terrified disciples. The story of Jesus calming this storm is recounted in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke during this summer of Ordinary Time. But what does it mean for us? I like to get…
Catholic Social Services accomplished a milestone on June 6 with the help of all of you and many incredible partners. Together, we added 83 new beds to the shelter system at a time when it’s most needed. Thanks to so much hard work from our team, Complex Care at 303 W. Fireweed in Anchorage opened,…
“Father, I abandon myself into your hands.” I went on a pilgrimage to Rome to witness the canonization of St. Charles De Foucauld on May 15. I want to thank Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., for sponsoring my travels to celebrate the canonization of St. Foucauld. The archbishop knew how important this event was for me…
Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau hired Liz Loeffler as its new director of faith formation. She began her new role at the beginning of July. Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., asks everyone to join him in welcoming Loeffler as the new director of faith formation for the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. In this role, Loeffler will lead archdiocesan…
Six men from St. Michael Parish in Olympia, Washington, traveled to Wrangell for a week to help parishioners remodel the St. Rose of Lima Parish hall in early June. “Please offer a prayer for each of them and their needs,” said Father Steven Gallagher on Facebook about the “Missionary Six,” as he calls them —…
Deacon Gary Horton, one of the earliest permanent deacons to serve the former Diocese of Juneau, died on May 16, 2022. He was 85 years old. A funeral Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Juneau on June 8. Deacon Horton was interred at the columbarium at…
Upon the end of the diocesan phase of the synod on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau celebrated the synod closing Mass, which brought archdiocesan parishes and their parishioners’ respective cultures together for the first time since the new archdiocese was unified in September 2020. During the Mass, which was held at the…