The North Star Catholic

Beginning July 1, the revised safe environment policies of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau will be in effect. Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M., announced the revised policies after a multi-year effort to update procedures and policies in his commitment to continually improve and adjust to this vital ministry, meet the needs of the archdiocese, and respond to our changin...

St. Therese’s Camp in Wasilla works its way into one’s heart. Perhaps it is sling-shotting chickpeas at clay pigeons with friends. Perhaps it is seeing counselors bounce Fr. Dylan James off the “blob” and into the brilliantly shining waters of Neklason Lake. Or perhaps it is glimpsing God in the trees, in the mountains, in friends and community. There is a reason campers, cou...

Q:

Dear Fr. Leo,

   When I was at Mass in Florida, they did an unusual penitential rite. I didn’t catch it all because it caught me by surprise, but it was not the “I confess,” or the “Lord have mercy” one. It only had two parts, and it was over before I knew what was going on. Any idea what they were doing? Was it Catholic? – B.

A...

Christ prayed that his followers “be one, as You, Father, are in me and I in you.” However, the Church’s unity has become progressively obscured by the proliferation of churches that are not in communion with each other, starting with the Oriental Orthodox schism and the East-West schism in 1054. These breaks further accelerated with the Protestant Reformation in 1517 over di...

When I was a young boy, I went through a phase of yelling and screaming. My Mother handled it in two ways: ignoring me, hoping that the behavior would pass, or, finally, having had enough when it didn’t pass, she would firmly shout, Andrew, stop it! Just stop it! No explanation was necessary; I recognized my behavior was disrespectful and inappropriate.

The words “no” ...