Parish History

Recorded history of Catholicism in Sitka dates back to the year 1867. Just a few months after the transfer of Alaska to the United States, a petition signed by 120 people was sent to the Bishop of Vancouver Island which was the closest diocese. The petition requested that a priest be sent to Sitka, where the government of this United States territory was being established.

During the following six years, at various intervals, priests came to Sitka. None stayed for any length of time. During their visits, Masses were celebrated in an old Russian barn and then in an old Lutheran log church.

In 1879, shortly after Father John Altoff was installed as pastor in Wrangell, he and Bishop Seghers traveled to Sitka to formally establish St. Gregory Nazianzen parish. Father Altoff would visit the Sitka parish whenever possible.

An old Russian log house was purchased by the Archbishop in September of 1885 and he filed a claim for the adjacent property. Father Heynen accompanied the Archbishop and stayed in Sitka until 1888. It was under his direction that the old building was renovated for worship. A photo of this church is in St. Gregory’s files.

In the years that followed, some priests came for a few months, others for a few years. With the help of the Extension Society a church was built in1922 under the direction of Father Riccotti, SJ, which is the basic structure of what we now call the "old church."

It was not until 1940 that a resident priest was again assigned to St. Gregory’s, though a number of priests came for a short time. The military build-up in the early 40’s brought 20,000 troops to the area, blackout conditions were enacted and all civilians were required to live in the town of Sitka. Father Patrick O’Rielly, SJ, was pastor during World War II. He enlisted the assistance of the Seabees to make some major improvements and additions to the church along with the adjoining living quarters for the priest.

From that time forward, St. Gregory’s has had a resident priest: Father Nevue, Father Zelanak, Father O’Brien, and Father McElmeel. In 1957, when Father McElmeel was pastor, a statue of Our Lady of Patience was donated to the parish. Father Mac, in turn, enlisted the skills of three men from Ireland to erect a grotto. Owen Collum and two Harritty brothers, Mike and John, were living in Sitka and working at the pulp mill site. They built the grotto and shrine in about the same spot as the1885 church. Jerry Hughes built a steeple on the church which remained until sometime after 1973 when it blew down during a wind storm.

Father Collins, Father Corrigan and Father Meullerleili followed as pastors. Father Corrigan had begun the building fund for a new church, but the task was given to Father Meullerleili to finalize the plans and begin construction of a new church, hall, and convent. The new St. Gregory’s Church was officially dedicated and blessed by Bishop Francis Hurley on September 3, 1973. Sisters of Holy Family lived in the convent directing religious education, choir, and ministering to those in logging camps and villages.

Father Ryan was the pastor during the latter part of the construction followed by Father James Miller, Father James Cronin, Father Jerome Frister, Father Bernard Konda, Father Paul Wightman, Father Peter Gorges, Father Matthew Cumberland, Father Jean-Paulin Engbanda Lockulu, Father Scott Settimo, Father Edmund Penisten, Father James Blaney, and Father Andrew Sensenig.