CatholicAnchor.org Kodiak is the first permanent European settlement in Alaska, dating back to the Russian settlement in 1784. In the 1800s, missionaries were able to serve it on rare occasions. With World War II and the establishment of a naval base, the population increased, and land was purchased for a church. The building of the…
CatholicAnchor.org Going where others can’t or won’t go is a charism Father Frank Reitter, a former Marist priest, brought with him to the Archdiocese of Anchorage and his current parish, St. Mary’s in Kodiak. Going to where he is needed has been a recurring theme of Father Frank’s ministry. Early in his priesthood, he was…
CatholicAnchor.org On November 30, 2018, at 8:29 a.m., a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit southcentral Alaska. Hundreds of aftershocks followed, leaving Alaskan residents in recovery mode and uneasy for months to come. November 30 is the feast day of Saint Andrew, and it is no small irony that the parish that suffered the most damage from…
CatholicAnchor.org A simple business card can be the beginning of a journey of healing for someone grieving an abortion loss. Project Rachel, a reconciliation and support system for those who seek to address the traumas one may experience after the elective termination of a pregnancy, has been a lifeline for many. Vicki Thorn founded Project…
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us! Every five years bishops throughout the world are required to travel to Rome in what is called a visit “ad limina Apostolorum” to pray at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul, meet with the Holy…
CatholicAnchor.org According to the Food Bank of Alaska, one in six children in Anchorage awake each morning to the possibility that they won’t have enough to eat that day. Food insecurity is a problem in Alaska and throughout the U.S. Dave Patterson, a parishioner at St. Patrick Parish in East Anchorage, said he and his…
CatholicAnchor.org Father Peter Gorges, who died in Anchorage on October 9th, while recovering from injuries from a fall, was known and loved not only in his home diocese of Juneau but all over our state. Two days before his funeral Mass and burial in Juneau, many of those he had served and befriended during fifty…
CatholicAnchor.org It is the month of Thanksgiving, and to all of you who are a part of our Catholic Social Services family, we wish you the best and most wonderful holiday. This holiday I wanted to share with you some of the warmest and best stories celebrating family and Thanksgiving that I know. These stories…
CatholicAnchor.org The holiday bazaar season is in full swing, with churches, schools and community organizations hosting a variety of events. Darker nights and colder days bring many folks indoors to indulge in creative pursuits and plan for the upcoming holiday season. Bazaars and other events bring folks together to share their talents, their time and…
CatholicAnchor.org As the leaves turn and the temperatures slowly fall, we prepare for all that comes with the changing season. During this time of year, besides raking leaves and storing flowerpots, I recently attended a candidate forum. One of the less controversial questions asked of the candidates at this forum was to name their favorite…