News & happenings around the Anchorage Archdiocese
The following is a list of news briefs and upcoming events from across the Anchorage Archdiocese.
Archbishop’s August Calendar
Anchorage Archbishop Paul Etienne is scheduled to attend the following liturgies and events in the month of August.
PHOTOS: Famous Fatima statue of Virgin Mary lands in Anchorage
The world-famous international Pilgrim Virgin Statue is just landed in Anchorage for a July 26-30 stop as part of a two-year U.S. tour for peace.
Pope names new bishop for Juneau
Pope Francis has named Vincentian Father Andrew Bellisario, age 60, as the next Bishop of Juneau. He succeeds Bishop Edward Burns who was installed as bishop of the Dallas Diocese earlier this year.
Ancient Marian garden tradition flowers in Alaska
In the Anchorage bowl, Marian gardens are cropping up outside private homes and on parish grounds. Whether still purchasing annuals for a humble window box or welcoming back perennial blooms in established landscaping, dedicating or rededicating flowerbeds can cultivate new meaning as a sacred space honoring Our Lady.
Chaplain to join former death row inmate for presentation in Alaska
D’Ambrosio served in the US Army. In 1998, at age 26, he was convicted and sentenced to death. Always maintaining his innocence, D’Ambrosio said being on death row was the “loneliest, heart-wrenching thing that will haunt him the rest of his life.”
Let us stir up one another to love and good works
It all started when I read an article about Popes Francis’ initiative to provide showers for the homeless. One homeless person reportedly said, “They treat us like friends.” Here in Magadan, Russia, we don’t have many homeless, but we have some folks with handicaps who need care.
Working to keep our military veterans from homelessness
Alaska has the highest number of veterans per capita of any state in the union. It is a tragedy to see that veterans experience homelessness at a higher rate than the general population across the country.
‘Love as if…’
At a recent Mass our Sunday reading was from 1 Peter 3:15-18, and included this line: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” The homilist that day told us we should spend time thinking about what our explanation would be. Hope defines a Christian. Hope is the noisy and exuberant, sometimes somber and diligent, antithesis to quiet desperation. Hope is what gets us out of bed in the morning, albeit occasionally reluctantly.
Gospels shed light on historical Jesus
“Who is Jesus Christ for us today?” The question popped up for me again as I read the Gospel for this 14th Sunday in ordinary time where Jesus’ family and his neighbors find him: “His wisdom was beyond them. After all, is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his family living here with us?” Who is this person really?