A Cathedral Born of a West Anchorage Mission
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been the Roman Catholic home for West Anchorage since 1970, when Msgr. John A. Lunney was asked to plant a new parish on the city's western edge. The first community met at the Turnagain Methodist church while a permanent home was prepared, and within six years the parish built what is still known as the Lunney Center, a multipurpose hall that anchors the campus to this day and serves as the gathering place for receptions, fundraisers, parish meals, and faith-formation classes.
Growth brought a new rectory, a covered walkway, and a thrift store called One More Time, established to raise money for a proper church. In the early years, the Hispanic Catholic Community of Anchorage, led by Fr. James Murphy, moved its Spanish Mass into the Parish Center. When Msgr. Lunney retired in 1994 and Fr. Michael Warfel arrived as pastor, the English-speaking and Hispanic communities were brought together under one roof. Construction of the present church began in 2005, and the building was inaugurated on December 12, 2005, the feast of the patroness.
Today the parish is served by the Vincentian Fathers (C.M.), the religious community of priests and brothers founded by St. Vincent de Paul, whose charism of service shapes the Cathedral's outreach to the poor of Anchorage. The Cathedral sits within the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau and serves as one of its cathedrals.
The Cathedral's mission statement is "a Roman Catholic parish of diverse cultures nourished by the Eucharist, guided by the Holy Spirit and inspired by our Patroness. We come together to pray, love, serve and evangelize through the Gospel of Life and social teachings of the Catholic Church."
Mass in English and Spanish Every Day of the Week
Mass is offered every day at the Cathedral, with a weekly schedule designed to serve both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Catholics from across the Anchorage Bowl.
- Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m., in English
- Wednesday: 7:00 p.m., in Spanish
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m., in English
- Sunday: 9:00 a.m., in English (livestreamed)
- Sunday: 11:30 a.m., in Spanish (livestreamed)
- Sunday: 5:30 p.m., in English
The Sunday 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses are livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. Confessions are heard on Saturdays from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. and in Spanish on Sundays from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., and additional times can be arranged by appointment. Eucharistic Adoration is celebrated in a bilingual hour on the first Friday of each month, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Parish office hours are Monday 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Wednesday evening 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The office is closed on weekends.
The Seven Sacraments
The Cathedral offers the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church. Parents preparing for the baptism of an infant or young child register through the parish office; registration forms, a Q&A sheet in English and Spanish, and the pre-baptism class schedule are available online and at the parish. Pre-baptism classes are held periodically, with the schedule posted each year.
First Holy Communion is a two-year preparation program that children may enter as early as kindergarten. Confirmation is a one-year program for young people who are at least eleven years old or in fifth grade and above, completing the sacrament of baptism begun in infancy.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered weekly as listed above, a setting "in which we as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the Church." The Anointing of the Sick is administered to bring spiritual and physical strength during illness, especially near the time of death. Those wishing to receive this sacrament are encouraged to call the rectory.
Couples wishing to be married at the Cathedral are asked to contact the parish office at least six months before the desired wedding date. After an initial meeting with the Wedding Coordinator and the completion of paperwork, appointments are scheduled with a priest and deacon for marriage preparation.
Men discerning a vocation to the priesthood or diaconate can speak with Fr. Toshio Sato, C.M., who is available to walk them through the next steps.
Faith Formation from Kindergarten through Confirmation
The Faith Formation program at the Cathedral welcomes children from kindergarten through high school, with a two-track catechetical program that runs in parallel with the Anchorage school year. The annual calendar is published online, and families stay in touch with their child's catechist throughout the year. First Communion candidates spend two years in preparation, and Confirmation candidates complete a one-year program, with a Confirmation retreat offered each year for upper-grade students.
Wish lists for classroom supplies are available on Amazon, and parents register their children through an online form. Photo galleries from recent years show retreats, classroom events, and family gatherings. A bilingual online registration form is available for both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking families.
Becoming Catholic: OCIA
Adults who wish to become Catholic, or who have been baptized in another Christian tradition and seek full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, are invited into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, or OCIA (formerly known as RCIA). The process is a year-long, communal journey of study, faith-sharing, and liturgical rites, open to anyone eighteen and older. It welcomes the unbaptized, those baptized with a non-Trinitarian formula, adult Catholics who have not yet received First Communion or Confirmation, and baptized Christians from other denominations who wish to come into full communion.
Those interested are asked to complete the online OCIA registration form or contact Vince Fennimore.
More Than Twenty Lay Ministries
More than twenty lay ministries keep the Cathedral running week to week.
- Altar Care tends the altar linens, candles, and sacristy.
- Altar Servers assist the priests at every Mass; the role is open to anyone who has received First Communion.
- Eucharistic Ministers distribute Holy Communion at Mass and at special celebrations.
- Lectors proclaim the readings at Mass, arriving fifteen minutes early to review the texts.
- Sacristans prepare the vessels, cloths, bread, and wine before each Mass.
- Liturgical Arts & Environment decorates the church to mark the seasons of the liturgical year.
- Liturgical Design & Planning continues shaping the interior of the new church to reflect the architecture and the cultural heritages of the parish.
- Hospitality Ministry greets parishioners at the door, takes up the collection, and brings up the gifts at the Offertory.
- Welcoming Committee reaches out to new parishioners with welcome packets, follow-up calls, and visits.
- Funeral (HOPE) Ministry sets up the reception after a funeral, prepares sandwiches and desserts, and offers hospitality to grieving families.
- Finance Committee works with the pastor and business manager on budgeting, investments, and reporting to the parish.
- Stewardship Committee fosters accountability, communication, generosity, and discipleship across the parish.
- Social Committee organizes Easter and Christmas bazaars, hat and fashion shows, and the annual garage sale.
- Parish Health Ministry offers blood pressure screenings, health information, visits to the sick, and help finding medical care.
- Legion of Mary meets weekly for prayer, study, and apostolic work under the spiritual direction of Deacon Gabriel Ruiz, on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
- Youth Group meets every Friday for prayer, faith sharing, and service. The group is conducted primarily in Spanish but is open to all youth.
The Knights of Columbus Saint Juan Diego Council 12492 brings Catholic men eighteen and older together for parish service, fundraising, and fellowship. The Council sponsors the annual parish picnic each summer, a traditional spaghetti dinner each fall, and occasional Sunday-morning pancake breakfasts. It meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Music at the Cathedral
Music is woven into every Mass at the Cathedral, with a separate choir and group of musicians coordinating the music for each of the four weekend Masses. The parish welcomes singers and instrumentalists of all kinds - guitar, bass fiddle, ukulele, piano, mandolin, organ, saxophone, and percussion. "We worship God in music because God is most worthy to be praised." Musicians serve at the Saturday 5:30 p.m. Mass, the Sunday 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Masses in English, and the Sunday 11:30 a.m. Hispanic Mass.
Each Mass has its own contact. The Saturday 5:30 p.m. choir is led by Han Lee, the Sunday 9:00 a.m. choir by Chad and Edna Resari, the Sunday 11:30 a.m. Hispanic Mass by Maura Esparza, and the Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass by Larry Cadavos and Loni Amor. A biennial inter-parish choir concert and an annual Christmas concert have become parish traditions, and recordings are kept in the Cathedral's online video gallery.
Feeding the Hungry and Visiting the Lonely: Outreach
Outreach to the poor of Anchorage is a central part of the Cathedral's identity, and several ministries work in coordination with the wider community.
The Outreach Ministry coordinates a weekly pickup of groceries from Carr's Safeway, which are sorted, packaged, and delivered to about twenty-two families in the parish. The ministry also delivers bread and fruit to Clare House every week and prepares a monthly evening meal for about forty-five residents of the shelter.
The Hispanic men's group prepares and serves dinner on the first Monday of each month at the Brother Francis Shelter. Parishioners are also encouraged to sign up each month to visit the residents of Clare House, sharing conversation and companionship.
The Cathedral supports the Bishop's Attic, a non-profit thrift store that raises funds for the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau and offers low-cost clothing and household goods to the community. The parish also supports local and global missionary efforts as part of its commitment to carrying faith beyond the walls of the church.
Fundraisers and Parish Life
The Cathedral's main fundraiser is the annual Gala, a dinner, live auction, and dance held each fall. The parish also hosts an annual bazaar in the Lunney Center, a rummage sale that draws volunteers from across the parish. Parish life is marked by a steady calendar of events: the Knights' picnic, spaghetti dinner, and pancake breakfasts; receptions for First Communion, Confirmation, and quinceañeras; fashion shows and hat parades; and a wide range of multicultural celebrations that bring the parish's many communities together.
A self-guided tour of the signs, symbols, and treasures of the Cathedral has been prepared for visitors and is available online.
Planning a Visit
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe is located at 3900 Wisconsin Street in West Anchorage. Weekday Masses are held at 9:00 a.m.; the Wednesday evening Mass in Spanish is at 7:00 p.m. Sunday Masses are at 9:00 a.m. (English), 11:30 a.m. (Spanish), and 5:30 p.m. (English). The Sunday 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses are livestreamed. Saturday Vigil Mass is at 5:30 p.m., with confessions beforehand from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration is offered on the first Friday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Newcomers are encouraged to register as members of the parish; registration forms are available online in English and Spanish and can be returned by email, dropped off at the parish office, or placed in the collection basket. The myParish app connects members to the parish calendar, daily readings, and push notifications about upcoming events. The weekly bulletin is published online and is available for download.
Those wishing to rent the Lunney Center for a reception, meeting, or other event can contact the business manager at the parish office. The Cathedral also hosts weddings, baptisms, quinceañeras, and funerals, with the HOPE Ministry providing hospitality after funeral services.