GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Alaska: AK-16

St. John Berchmans Church
P.O. Box 131
Galena, AK 99741

Phone: 907-656-1240

 

History: St. John Berchmans Church, Galena, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, has been a small and predominantly Native American (Koyukon) parish on the Yukon River in the Diocese of Fairbanks (Archives: Fairbanks, Alaska).

1870s

Oblates of Mary Immaculate (Archives: Victoria, British Columbia) visited Galena (Koyukon)

1880s

Jesuits (Turin Province) (Archives: St. Louis, Missouri) visited Galena 

1921-1960

Jesuits (California, Oregon Provinces) (Archives: St. Louis, Missouri) from St. Peter’s, Nulato, established and attended St. John Berchmans Mission (Koyukon)

1960-1960s

Became a parish; Jesuits administered St. John Berchmans Church  

1966-1980

Jesuits attended St. John’s from St. Aloysius, Tanana 

1971

Because of flooding, the town of Galena relocated to a new site

1978-1990

St. Columbans Foreign Mission Society (U.S. Region) (St. Columbans, Nebraska) administered St. John’s 

1984-1988

A new church was built at “New Town”

1981-1990

Various women religious ministered to St. John’s including 1 or more members of the Sisters of St. Ann, Dominican Sisters, and Sisters of Notre Dame

1990-present

Franciscans (Sacred Heart Province) (Archives: St. Louis, Missouri) and Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (Milwaukee Province) (Archives: Milwaukee, Wisconsin), have ministered to St. John’s and shared in its administration

1990s-present

Permanent deacons (Yupik Eskimo) have served the parish

1990s-present

Visiting Fairbanks diocesan priests and diocesan ministry team members have ministered to St. John’s as needed

2003-2010s (closed)

The Kateri Tekakwitha Native Interior Ministry Study Center was established and administered at St. John’s by a Sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary and a Sister of St. Joseph

Jesuits, St. Columbans Foreign Mission Society, and Franciscans from St. John’s, Galena, have attended the following Native (Koyukon) missions:

1960-1966 (became a parish)

St. Aloysius Church, Tanana  

1960-1987 (became a parish)

St. Peter in Chains Mission, Ruby

1980-1990s (became a parish)

St. Patrick Mission, Koyukuk

1998-present

Our Lady of the Snows Church, Nulatto

1989-present

St. Francis Regis Mission, Huslia (Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur have attended this mission as well)

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans: 

Inclusive dates: 1960-ongoing  

Volume: Several volumes 

Description: Sacramental records (e.g. baptisms, marriages, burials) for the Native American parishioners of St. John Berchmans Church and its attended missions.  

 

Unless otherwise noted, the repository on this page holds (or held) the records described here and they are not held at the Marquette University Archives.

new2006/rev2020