Diocese of Fairbanks, USA 🇺🇸

Continent: North America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Fairbanks / de Fairbanks (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Anchorage–Juneau

Neighbouring Dioceses: Transfiguration at Novosibirsk (←), Whitehorse (→), Anchorage–Juneau (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (October 1)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: June 26

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1894.07.27: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Alaska (from Diocese of New Westminster and Diocese of Vancouver Island)
1917.02.15: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Alaska
1951.06.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Juneau
1962.08.08: Promoted as Diocese of Fairbanks / de Fairbanks (Latin) (without ecclesiastical province)
1966.01.22: Became suffragan of Anchorage
2019.11.11: Depended on Congregation for Bishops

Contact Info

Address: 1316 Peger Rd., Fairbanks, AK 99709-5199, USA

Phone: +1 (907) 374-9500

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1984.05)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.07.11 – ...):

Bishop Steven Maekawa, O.P. (58)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Fairbanks (Roman Rite)

Bishop Steven Maekawa, O.P. (58)
(2023.07.11 – ...)

Bishop of Fairbanks (USA)

Duc in altum

Born:	1967.11.22 (Seattle, WA, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1999.06.25
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.10.12

Bishop of Fairbanks (USA) (2023.07.11 – ...)

Archbishop Andrew Eugene Bellisario, C.M. (69)
(Apostolic Administrator 2022.09.27 – 2023.07.11)

Bishop Chad William Zielinski (61)
(2014.11.08 – 2022.07.12)

Bishop of New Ulm (USA)

Illum oportet crescere / He must increase

Born:	1964.09.08 (Detroit, MI, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1996.06.08
Consecrated Bishop:	2014.12.15

Priest of Gaylord (USA) (1996.06.08 – 2014.11.08)

Bishop of Fairbanks (USA) (2014.11.08 – 2022.07.12)

Bishop of New Ulm (USA) (2022.07.12 – ...)

Archbishop Roger Lawrence Schwietz, O.M.I. (85)
(Apostolic Administrator 2013.09.20 – 2014.11.08)

Bishop Donald Joseph Kettler (81)
(2002.06.07 – 2013.09.20)

Bishop emeritus of Saint Cloud (USA)

Faith, hope and love

Born:	1944.11.26 (Minneapolis, MN, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1970.05.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2002.08.22

Priest of Sioux Falls (USA) (1970.05.29 – 2002.06.07)

Bishop of Fairbanks (USA) (2002.06.07 – 2013.09.20)

Bishop of Saint Cloud (USA) (2013.09.20 – 2022.12.15)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Sioux Falls (USA) (2025.05.01 – 2025.08.12)

Bishop Michael William Warfel (77)
(Apostolic Administrator 2001.10.23 – 2002.06.07)

Bishop Michael Joseph Kaniecki, S.J.
(1985.06.01 – 2000.08.06)

To love and to serve

Born:	1935.04.13 (Detroit, MI, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1965.06.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1984.05.01
Died:	2000.08.06 († 65)

Coadjutor Bishop of Fairbanks (USA) (1984.03.08 – 1985.06.01)

Bishop of Fairbanks (USA) (1985.06.01 – 2000.08.06)

Bishop Robert Louis Whelan, S.J.
(1968.11.15 – 1985.06.01)

Solicitude and charity

Born:	1912.04.16 (Wallace, ID, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1944.06.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.02.22
Died:	2001.09.15 († 89)

Titular Bishop of Sicilibba (1967.12.06 – 1968.11.15)

Coadjutor Bishop of Fairbanks (USA) (1967.12.06 – 1968.11.15)

Bishop of Fairbanks (USA) (1968.11.15 – 1985.06.01)

Bishop Francis Doyle Gleeson, S.J.
(1962.08.08 – 1968.11.15)

Adveniat regnum tuum

Born:	1895.01.17 (Carrollton, MO, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1926.07.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1948.04.05
Died:	1983.04.30 († 88)

Titular Bishop of Cotenna (1948.01.08 – 1962.08.08)

Vicar Apostolic of Alaska (USA) (1948.01.08 – 1962.08.08)

Bishop of Fairbanks (USA) (1962.08.08 – 1968.11.15)

Titular Bishop of Cuicul (1968.11.15 – 1971.01.15)

Vicars Apostolic of Alaska (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francis Doyle Gleeson, S.J.
(1948.01.08 – 1962.08.08)

(see above)

Bishop Walter James Fitzgerald, S.J.
(1945.05.20 – 1947.07.19)

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam

Born:	1883.11.17 (Peola, WA, USA)
Ordained Priest:	1918.05.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1939.02.24
Died:	1947.07.19 († 63)

Titular Bishop of Tymbrias (1938.12.14 – 1945.05.20)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Alaska (USA) (1938.12.14 – 1945.05.20)

Vicar Apostolic of Alaska (USA) (1945.05.20 – 1947.07.19)

Bishop Joseph Raphael John Crimont, S.J.
(1917.02.15 – 1945.05.20)

In nomine Jesu

Born:	1858.02.02 (Ferrières, France)
Ordained Priest:	1888.08.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1917.07.25
Died:	1945.05.20 († 87)

Prefect Apostolic of Alaska (USA) (1904.03.28 – 1917.02.15)

Titular Bishop of Ammædara (1917.02.15 – 1945.05.20)

Vicar Apostolic of Alaska (USA) (1917.02.15 – 1945.05.20)

Prefects Apostolic of Alaska (Roman Rite)

Fr. Joseph Raphael John Crimont, S.J. (later Bishop)
(1904.03.28 – 1917.02.15)

(see above)

Fr. Jean Baptist Rene, S.J.
(1897.03.16 – 1904.03.28)

Born:	1841.08.22 (Montrevault-sur-Èvre, France)
Ordained Priest:	1876
Died:	1916.04.06 (Los Gatos, CA, USA † 74)

Prefect Apostolic of Alaska (USA) (1897.03.16 – 1904.03.28)

Fr. Paschal Tosi, S.J.
(1894.07.27 – 1897.09.13)

Born:	1837.04.25 (San Vito, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1861.05.25
Died:	1898.01.14 (Juneau, AK, USA † 60)

Priest of Rimini (Italy) (1861.05.25 – 1865)

Priest of Society of Jesus (Jesuits) (1865 – 1898.01.14)

Prefect Apostolic of Alaska (USA) (1894.07.27 – 1897.09.13)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Michael Joseph Kaniecki, S.J. (1984.03.08 – 1985.06.01)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Robert Louis Whelan, S.J. (1967.12.06 – 1968.11.15)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop George Theodore Boileau, S.J. (1964.04.21 – 1965.02.25)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Walter James Fitzgerald, S.J. (1938.12.14 – 1945.05.20)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Fairbanks, Alaska
Former Cathedral: Church of the Immaculate Conception, Fairbanks, Alaska
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (47)

Transfiguration at Novosibirsk (←), Whitehorse (→), Anchorage–Juneau (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 1,061,508 km²

Population: 11,900 Catholics (7.2% of 164,727 total)

Pastoral Centres: 46 parishes

Personnel: 20 priests (13 diocesan, 7 religious), 25 deacons, 13 religious (9 brothers, 4 sisters), 2 seminarians