Diocese of Fairbanks, USA

Present Prelates

Bishop:	vacant
Apostolic Administrator (2022.09.27 – ...):	Archbishop Andrew Eugene Bellisario, C.M. (66) Metropolitan Archbishop of Anchorage–Juneau (USA)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Fairbanks (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Andrew Eugene Bellisario, C.M. (66)
(Apostolic Administrator 2022.09.27 – ...)

Bishop Chad William Zielinski (58)
(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

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. (82)
(Apostolic Administrator 2013.09.20 – 2014.11.08)

Bishop Donald Joseph Kettler (78)
(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

Bishop of Fairbanks (USA) (2002.06.07 – 2013.09.20)

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

Bishop Michael William Warfel (74)
(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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1876
Died:	1916.04.06 († 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 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1861
Died:	1898.01.14 († 60)

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)

Contact Info

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

Phone: +1 (907) 374-9500

Website:

Statistics

Area: 1,061,508 km²

Population: 11,570 Catholics (6.9% of 166,835 total) (2020)

Statistics: 46 parishes, 18 priests (11 diocesan, 7 religious), 24 deacons, 10 lay religious (9 brothers, 1 sister), 4 seminarians (2020)

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

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1984.05)

Diocese of

Fairbanks

USA

Special Churches

Churches by City (47)