The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) consecrated the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida, for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The feast was first established in…
Friday, May 8th, marked the first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV. It is important to pray for our Holy Father and his intentions, especially for his intention for peace and reconciliation in our world: a peace grounded in love and justice. The Gospel Reading on May 8th was from the 15th chapter…
Originally printed in the May 2025 issue Some scholars believe that the saying “the eyes are the windows to the soul” originated in ancient Greece or Rome. Regardless of its origins, this saying has endured over time because it contains elements of truth. I had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis on two occasions. I…
After more than eight decades, the highly anticipated 10th National Eucharistic Congress saw more than 50,000 Catholics gather for a five-day event in Indianapolis last month — the centerpiece of a three-year campaign launched by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2022. The USCCB initiated the National Eucharistic Revival as a “joyful,…
Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau’s (AOAJ) Catholic faithful join the thousands pilgrimaging to Indianapolis in July for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress — the first in the United States in 83 years. Some of those traveling from the archdiocese are ten individuals who registered early with the archdiocesan Eucharistic Revival committee and a group of five traveling…
Editor’s note: This article was published in the March 2023 issue of the North Star Catholic. ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Ihor and Iryna Melnyk and their two sons are refugees from Ukraine navigating a new life in Wasilla. They joined more than 500 other refugees who made their way to Alaska, in this case from the city…
“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…
Saint John Mary Vianney, patron saint of parish priests worldwide, would often say that “the priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1589). A little over halfway into my first year as a priest, I took the opportunity to draw near to the origin of these words…
Charles de Foucauld was canonized by Pope Francis on Sunday, May 15. To commemorate his canonization, a Mass was celebrated at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Anchorage on Saturday, May 14. Foucauld is the inspiration behind the vocation and mission of the Community of Little Sisters of Jesus in Alaska, which began in 1952; and…
The crisis in Ukraine, provoked by what is almost universally decried as an unjust assault by Russia on a sovereign neighbor, has captured the attention of people across the world. It’s led to renewed discussions within the Catholic Church about the Christian attitude toward war, the just war theory, and the frightening dangers of escalation….