Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau (Latin: Archidioecesis Ancoragiensis–Junellensis) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern United States, comprising several boroughs and census areas in the state of Alaska. The Archdiocese is led by a prelate archbishop who serves as pastor of the mother church, the Cathedral of the Holy Family in the Municipality of Anchorage.
Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau Archidioecesis Ancoragiensis–Junellensis | |
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![]() Holy Family Cathedral | |
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Location | |
Country | ![]() |
Territory | ![]() |
Ecclesiastical province | Anchorage–Juneau |
Statistics | |
Area | 123,959 sq mi (321,050 km2) |
Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2020) 563,372 55,297 (9.8%) |
Parishes | 32 |
Schools | 8 |
Information | |
Denomination | Catholic |
Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
Rite | Roman Rite |
Established | January 22, 1966 (54 years ago) |
Cathedral | Holy Family Cathedral |
Co-cathedral | Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral[1] Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
Patron saint | St. Joseph the Worker St. Therese of Lisieux |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Archbishop | Andrew E. Bellisario, CM |
Bishops emeritus | Roger Lawrence Schwietz, OMI |
Map | |
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Website | |
archdioceseofanchorage.org |
History
The See of Anchorage was erected on January 22, 1966, by Pope Paul VI. The archdiocese's territories came from the Diocese of Juneau.[2][3] Anchorage's large population and burgeoning community development warranted the creation of a new archdiocese in the city as opposed to elevating the already existing Diocese of Juneau to that rank.
The Archdiocese hosted visits from Pope John Paul II multiple times. In 1981 he celebrated Mass on the Anchorage Park Strip before 50,000 people.
On May 19, 2020, Pope Francis merged the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Juneau into the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau.[4]
Bishops
The archbishops and their years of service:
Archbishops of Anchorage
- John Joseph Thomas Ryan (1966–1975), appointed Coadjutor Archbishop and later Archbishop for the Military Services
- Francis Thomas Hurley (1976–2001)
- Roger Lawrence Schwietz, O.M.I. (2001–2016)[5]
- Paul Dennis Etienne (2016–2019), appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Seattle[6]
Archbishops of Anchorage-Juneau
- Andrew E. Bellisario, CM (2020-present)[7]
Other priest of this diocese who became bishop
- Michael William Warfel, appointed Bishop of Juneau in 1996
High schools
- Holy Rosary Academy, Anchorage
- Lumen Christi Junior/Senior High School, Anchorage
Publications
The Archdiocese publishes a monthly newspaper, Catholic Anchor, which has approximately 11,000 subscribers. It was established in April 1999.[8]
Suffragan see
The ecclesiastical province of Anchorage–Juneau comprises the state of Alaska and includes the only suffragan diocese of Fairbanks.
Until the 19th May 2020, the diocese of Juneau was a second suffragan diocese.
See also
- Ecclesiastical Province of Anchorage
- List of Roman Catholic archdioceses (by country and continent)
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (alphabetical) (including archdioceses)
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view) (including archdioceses)
- List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States
References
- "Our Lady of Guadalupe becomes Anchorage's co-cathedral". Catholic Anchor. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
- "Archdiocese of Anchorage". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- "Metropolitan Archdiocese of Anchorage". Giga Catholic. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-merges-alaskan-dioceses-to-create-archdiocese-of-anchorage-juneau-42506
- Holy See Press Office. "Rinunce e nomine". press.vatican.va. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-04/pope-francis-appoints-coadjutor-archbishop-seattle-paul-etienne.html
- http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/05/19/0290/00645.html
- "The Catholic Anchor". Archdiocese of Anchorage. Retrieved January 5, 2015.