Galena - Saint John Berchmans

Galena is predominantly an Athabascan Indian village located on the right bank of the middle Yukon River. It was so named after it was founded during World War I for galena or lead ore which is mined nearby. For a time there had been a U.S. Army base at Galena and the town became a commercial and transportation center for surrounding villages.

Church archives indicate that the sacraments had been administered there during the latter part of the 19th century by visiting priests who occasionally stopped there. However, a church at Galena was formally established in 1921 with the advent of Fr. Crispino Rossi, S.J., who performed baptisms that year and dedicated the Church to Saint John Berchmans.

Historically, the first church building in Galena had an earlier life as a saloon. In 1921 the old saloon was barged down from Ruby and transformed into a Church with added priest's headquarters. Fr. Rossi served as the parish's first pastor when he visited from Nulato between the years 1921 and 1925.

Galena became an independent parish in 1952. The old church was replaced by an octagonal building in 1984 at the new town site and was dedicated by Bishop Michael Kaniecki, S.J., on May 22, 1988.

The Jesuit Community served Saint John Berchmans parish for a good part of its history until recently. Some Jesuits were residents of Galena. Others traveled to visit the Saint John Berchmans Catholic community there from Tanana and Nulato. These are: Frs. Joseph McElmeel, John Baud, James Spils, James Plamondon, René Astruc, George Carroll, Charles Saalfeld, and Bernard McMeel.

More recently, priests from other Orders have come to help the dwindling numbers of available Jesuits, most notably the Franciscan Friars who have resided in Galena, since 1986.

Catholic Sisters have taken leadership roles in service to the Galena community. Some are: Sisters Jeannette LaRose, S.S.A., Patricia Miller, O.P., and Peggy Glynn, O.P., as well as Margaret Usuka, S.N.D. The names just mentioned are a few of many who dedicated their time and talent to the Parish of Saint John Berchmans.

Diocesan priests also served the Catholic community at Galena, most recently Fr. Al Levitre. Fr. Edward Hartmann, current Rector of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Fairbanks, was in residence at Galena from 1995 until 1997. During his tenure at the parish, Fr. Hartman also celebrated liturgies in Huslia, where he traveled once a month. Fr. Ronald Dunfey was another diocesan priest at Galena.

Brother R. Justin Huber, O.F.M., is Pastoral Minister, based in Galena but traveling throughout the region performing pastoral and maintenance tasks.