The North Star Catholic / Uncategorized Archives - Page 12 of 15

Talkeetna parish seeks help to address future flooding

The result: the little parish church, home to 25 families, was devastated. Flooring, crawlspace, wiring, the boiler -— everything was ruined. Fortunately, insurance covered the damage, and a repaired church emerged from the old. But two things were apparent. According to the Army Corps of Engineers, the rivers’ flow had been permanently changed, and unless the church, which sat lower than the nearby road, was elevated, a similar or even worse flood wasn’t far in the offing.

Christmas Masses across the Archdiocese of Anchorage

Editor’s note: The following Christmas Mass times are for Catholic parishes across the Anchorage Archdiocese. For last minute updates or changes to Mass times, please visit archdioceseofanchorage.org

Tips on keeping Christmas in Christmas

The purpose of this column is to assist you with some ideas on how to make Christmas truly special while keeping Advent intact. I recognize that our culture has progressed to an extraordinary level of false celebration that will be very difficult to overcome, so I am not expecting the complete and full reversal of the troubling remnants of the secular trends in Christmas; rather, I would like to make some suggestions that can help you and your families to make strong steps towards a deeply Christian and less material experience of Christmas.

Pro-lifer on the streets offers hope to women

Rannals is a veteran sidewalk counselor facing off against abortion. She’s bundled in a long quilted winter coat and low black heels, poised on Anchorage’s East 40th Avenue, ready to move seamlessly from prayer to action. Approachable, quick-thinking and deferential to the mood of those she meets on the street, Rannals is ready to initiate conversation with anyone.

Les Mis bishop key to story’s redemptive theme

In addition to letting Valjean keep the silver and protecting him from the police, Bishop Bienvenue “buys” the ex-convicts soul for God with two silver candlesticks, telling him to use the treasure to begin a virtuous new life. Although the event “is a tiny part of the movie,” it shows Bishop Bienvenue’s “intimate connection with Christ.”

Upcoming family synod should stay positive

Pope Francis understands the crisis of marriage culture in its multiple dimensions, just as he understands that the family, which begins in marriage, is a troubled institution in the post-modern world; that’s why he’s summoned two Synods on the topic of the family. And that’s why the Synod, fully aware of the gravity of the situation, should begin, continue and end on a positive note, offering the world a pearl of great price: the Christian understanding and experience of marriage.

Catholic youth: Record number of teens take part in annual conference Alaska youth challenged by ancient faith Record number of teens attend AK Catholic Youth Conference

CatholicAnchor.org At a time when sociologists find traditional forms of faith weakening among U.S. young people and increasing numbers claiming no religion, an estimated 350 Alaskan teens descended on Anchorage for four days of intense Catholic immersion. The 14th annual Alaska Catholic Youth Conference in Anchorage took place June 2-5 at Lumen Christi High School…

Roraff: Final year before priesthood underway

CatholicAnchor.org Families, friends, clergy and religious packed into Holy Family Cathedral on June 6 as seminarian Arthur Roraff, 46, was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz. The occasion marked a pivotal point in Deacon Roraff’s journey of becoming a priest for the Anchorage Archdiocese. During his homily, Archbishop Schwietz reflected on…

Faith can’t help but inform politics, governor tells teens

CatholicAnchor.org Alaska Governor Sean Parnell spent the better part of an hour fielding questions about his Christian faith from Catholic teens during last month’s Alaska Catholic Youth Conference (ACYC) in Anchorage. Invited by Alaska’s Catholic bishops to participate at this year’s ACYC, Parnell accepted and spoke candidly about how faith and political leadership have shaped…

Training aims to expand outreach to parishioners with disabilities

CatholicAnchor.org In an effort to better serve parishioners with developmental disabilities, national trainers from Chicago will be in Anchorage in July to assist parishes in launching SPRED ministries (Special Religious Development) in local parishes. SPRED establishes faith formation groups in participating parishes with the aim of integrating those with developmental disabilities into the larger life…