GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
Alaska: AK-7

St. Catherine of Sienna Church
P.O. Box 90
Chefornak, AK 99561

Phone: 907-867-8702 

 

History: St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Chefornak, Bethel Census Area, Alaska, has been a small and predominantly Native American (Yupik Eskimo) parish on the Kinia River at its junction with the Keguk River and in the Diocese of Fairbanks (Archives: Fairbanks, Alaska).

1930s-1950s

Jesuits (Oregon Province) (Archives: St. Louis, Missouri) visited Old Cheforniak (Yupik Eskimo)

Early 1950s

To avoid periodic flooding, the residents of Old Cheforniak relocated the community to New Cheforniak

1952-1966, 1974-1983

Jesuits established and administered St. Catherine Church (Yupik Eskimo), New Cheforniak

1966-1974

Fairbanks diocesan priests administered St. Catherine’s

1972, 1975-1976

Fire destroyed St. Catherine’s, which was rebuilt, 1975-1976  

1983-1986

Fairbanks diocesan priests at Little Flower, Hooper Bay, attended St. Catherine’s

1983-1986

Sisters of St. Ann served the parish with religious education

1986-2000s

Jesuits administered St. Catherine’s

1986-present

Permanent deacons (Yupik Eskimo) and lay administrators (Yupik Eskimo) have served the parish and provided day-to-day administration

2000s-present

Visiting Fairbanks diocesan priests and diocesan ministry team members have ministered to St. Catherine’s

Fairbanks diocesan priests at St. Catherine’s attended Umkumute station (Eskimo), 1970-1979 (transferred to St. Joseph’s, Tununak). 

 

Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:

Inclusive dates: 1969-ongoing

Volume: Few volumes 

Description: Sacramental records (e.g. baptisms, marriages, burials) for Native American parishioners of St. Catherine Church and Umkumute station.   

 

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

new2006/rev2020