Religion

Reverend Father Simeon Johnson, the rector for St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, left, stands in the church chapel with the recently enthroned Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sitka and Alaska, the Right Reverend Alexei on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Alexei was in Juneau to discuss rennovations to St. Nicholas, the second oldest Orthodox church in Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church prepares for a heavy lift

Alaska’s second-oldest Orthodox church.

 

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A Ray of Hope in Chaotic Times

Even in these chaotic and perilous times, there is reason for hope. Humanity finds itself at a major crossroads: Do we choose the path of… Continue reading

 

Page Bridges

Spiritual Healing

God works in so many ways to heal us.

 

Approaching Notre Dame

Approaching Notre Dame

Reflecting on the cathedral’s life among Parisians.

Approaching Notre Dame
Juneau church gets fundraising boost from storytellers

Juneau church gets fundraising boost from storytellers

An uplifting story.

Juneau church gets fundraising boost from storytellers
Breaking bread in the new year

Breaking bread in the new year

There’s always room at the table.

Breaking bread in the new year
Reflecting on the gifts our savior has given us

Reflecting on the gifts our savior has given us

These four gifts will bring us joy.

Reflecting on the gifts our savior has given us
Opinion: Fight anti-semitism with love

Opinion: Fight anti-semitism with love

It’s been almost two months since the murder of 11 Jews in Pittsburgh.

Opinion: Fight anti-semitism with love
Priests from around Alaska along with Father Andrew E. Bellisario, right, enter St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church for his Ordination and Installation as the Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Juneau on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Juneau Diocese commissions sexual misconduct review

The investigation will go back to 1951.

Priests from around Alaska along with Father Andrew E. Bellisario, right, enter St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church for his Ordination and Installation as the Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Juneau on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Bishop David, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Diocese of Alaska, presents a certificate of appreciation to Patrick Kearney at the end of Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Chruch on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2015. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

‘Dedicated servant of God’: Bishop honors St. Nicholas parishioner

Patrick Kearney helps keep downtown church running.

Bishop David, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Diocese of Alaska, presents a certificate of appreciation to Patrick Kearney at the end of Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Chruch on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2015. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Opinion: They were us

In the recent commemoration for the Princess Sophia sinking of 100 years ago, in describing the Sophia’s passengers the speaker repeatedly used the phrase, “They… Continue reading

People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Barbara Sheinberg speaks about growing up in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood a couple blocks away from the Tree of Life synagogue where 11 people were killed by a gunman on Saturday. An overflowing crowd gathered at Temple Sukkat Shalom on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, to honor the memory of the people killed. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Community members gather to mourn Pittsburgh shooting victims

People of all ages and backgrounds were in attendance.

Barbara Sheinberg speaks about growing up in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood a couple blocks away from the Tree of Life synagogue where 11 people were killed by a gunman on Saturday. An overflowing crowd gathered at Temple Sukkat Shalom on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, to honor the memory of the people killed. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Personnel from Chesed Shel Emes Emergency Services and Recovery Unit gather near the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Robert Bowers, the suspect in the mass shooting at the synagogue, expressed hatred of Jews during the rampage and told officers afterward that Jews were committing genocide and he wanted them all to die, according to charging documents made public Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Local synagogue to honor Pittsburgh victims

Everybody is welcome at the service.

Personnel from Chesed Shel Emes Emergency Services and Recovery Unit gather near the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Robert Bowers, the suspect in the mass shooting at the synagogue, expressed hatred of Jews during the rampage and told officers afterward that Jews were committing genocide and he wanted them all to die, according to charging documents made public Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Thumbing our nose at death

Thumbing our nose at death

Halloween is our way of facing our fears head on.

Thumbing our nose at death
Living & Growing: Learning to Love Everyone

Living & Growing: Learning to Love Everyone

This can be the tricky part.

Living & Growing: Learning to Love Everyone
Sister Marie Lucek OP, of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, photographed on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, is retiring her job after 12 years in Juneau and moving to her Order’s sister house in Wisconsin. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

A sister’s next act: Longtime Juneau nun retires

Sister Marie Lucek OP has worked for the parish of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in downtown Juneau for 12… Continue reading

Sister Marie Lucek OP, of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, photographed on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, is retiring her job after 12 years in Juneau and moving to her Order’s sister house in Wisconsin. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Living & Growing: I can be an imbecile

Living & Growing: I can be an imbecile

I have no idea what I’m doing most of the time. Take dinner the other night. There is always an element of adventure in our… Continue reading

Living & Growing: I can be an imbecile
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of The Art of Living Foundation leads a group meditation at the Juneau-Douglas High School auditorium on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, as part of his West Coast Tour that also includes San Francisco and Seattle. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Spreading ‘mental hygiene:’ Spiritual leader visits Juneau

Correction: An earlier version of this article erroneously stated that the Sealaska Heritage Institute gifted Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with a Chilkat robe. The gift… Continue reading

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of The Art of Living Foundation leads a group meditation at the Juneau-Douglas High School auditorium on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, as part of his West Coast Tour that also includes San Francisco and Seattle. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. (Courtesy Photo | Art of Living Foundation)

Spiritual guru to visit Juneau

A spiritual leader with an enormous international following is visiting Juneau this month — with 1,000 followers in tow. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s devotees will… Continue reading

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. (Courtesy Photo | Art of Living Foundation)
Pastor Cale Mead, left, was installed as the new pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Juneau this week. His daughter Amelia and wife Lauren pose for a picture by his side. (Photo courtesy Lynda Barker)

Christ Lutheran welcomes new pastor

Cale Mead grew up all over western Wisconsin. Because his mother, Dawn, was a nurse, and his father, Chris, served in the Army, Mead lived… Continue reading

Pastor Cale Mead, left, was installed as the new pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Juneau this week. His daughter Amelia and wife Lauren pose for a picture by his side. (Photo courtesy Lynda Barker)