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At a Jan. 30 dedication ceremony attended by area Catholics, Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz blessed a new library in the refurbished Holy Family Center on the campus of Holy Family Cathedral in downtown Anchorage.
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. American Heritage Girls aims to be ‘Christ centered’ CATHOLICANCHOR.ORG  Image from ahgonline.org A troop of nearly 50 young campers is blazing a new trail in Alaska’s wilderness. Clad in patriotic red, white and blue scouting uniforms, the American Heritage Girls are members of a growing national Christian scouting organization that aims to kindle souls along with campfires. American Heritage Girls began in 1995 with a group of 10 families in Cincinnati, Ohio who wanted a scouting program for girls that was centered on Christianity. BY PATRICIA COLL FREEMAN CatholicAnchor.org Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz inaugurated Catholic Schools Week with a call for the archdiocese’s diverse schools to find unity in the love of Christ. He spoke to several hundred students, teachers and parents who were gathered for Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church on Jan. 29 in Anchorage. Three of the five schools were represented at the Mass: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School (K-6), Lumen Christi High School (7-12) and Holy Rosary Academy (preK-12), a 22-year-old independent Catholic school in Anchorage and the newest member of the archdiocesan Catholic school system. Union hailed as a mutually beneficial partnership By EFFIE CALDAROLA CatholicAnchor.org Holy Rosary Academy, a long-time independent Catholic school in Anchorage was officially welcomed into the Anchorage Archdiocese Catholic school system last month. Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz called the union a “testimony to the unity that we aspire to as part of the Body of Christ.”  . CatholicAnchor.org Sometimes it takes an outside perspective for those of us within the Catholic Church to see, again, the great gift we have inherited. This issue features an article about an Episcopal priest, Father Dean Mandrell. He is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion and, while remaining within his tradition, he has long been drawn to many profound elements of the Catholic Church (see story on page 1). He is not the first Anglican to see great treasure and strength in the Catholic faith  Sherry Wright carries a sign Jan. 23 at a pro-life prayer vigil in Anchorage. — Anchor photo By SHERRY WRIGHT CatholicAnchor.org It was 34 years ago this Jan. 23 that I had an abortion. For many years, this weekend brought particular pain. I became a Christian at 12 years old but fell away and got pregnant at 17. The most important thing on my mind at the time was being a lifeguard, which I had just discovered I would be doing that coming summer. I dreamed being a lifeguard for years, but how could I possibly be a lifeguard and be pregnant? Because of my age, my mom had to sign a letter and have it notarized before the abortion. This was on the condition that I never tell my father. My boyfriend asked me to marry him. He was 23. My heart said my thinking was off, but I was sure an abortion would make my “problem” go away.  Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell By JOEL DAVIDSON CatholicAnchor.org Last month, Governor Sean Parnell issued a statement praising the work of pro-life leaders in Alaska for their activism and prayers. A spokesperson read the governor’s statement at the annual pro-life prayer vigil at the Anchorage Memorial Cemetery on Jan. 23. “Today we gather, people of all faiths, to recognize the sanctity of each human life,” the governor wrote. “We recognize that each human child is a miracle and has a right to live. I thank you for making your voice and your prayer heard today.”  Fr. Dean Mandrell Calls Pope Benedict XVI ‘heavy duty theologian’ By JOEL DAVIDSON CatholicAnchor.org After 45 conflicted years in the Episcopal Church, one Alaska priest sees the Vatican’s recent invitation to welcome whole groups of former Anglicans into full communion with the Catholic Church as an answer to prayer. Father Dean Mandrell hasn’t personally made up his mind just yet, but the pastor of St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church in Palmer is moved by the proposal of Pope Benedict XVI, a man whom he has long admired.
 Attendees gather at the Anchorage Memorial Cemetery for the annual interdenominational pro-life prayer service, sponsored by the Alaska Knights of Columbus. — Photo by Joel Davidson Youth, men and ballot initiative reshape pro-life movement By JOEL DAVIDSON CatholicAnchor.org Several trends are beginning to reshape elements of the pro-life movement throughout Alaska and across the nation. These were evident during the annual prayer service last month in Anchorage, where more than 130 people gathered at the Anchorage Memorial Cemetery to pray for an end to abortion. The interdenominational service, which is hosted each year by the Alaska Knights of Columbus, featured many key players in Alaska’s pro-life movement. What has become evident is that these men and women are actively broadening the movement to address the harmful effects of abortion on post-abortive parents — including men — and they are enlisting more supporters through grassroots initiatives. |
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