Diocese of Fairbanks (Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska)

The Diocese of Fairbanks (AKA Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska or CBNA) covers nearly 410,000 square miles, the northernmost two-thirds of the state. There are only forty-six parishes, eight of which are self-supporting. Profound differences exist between urban “road system” parishes and those in remote regions, including Athabaskan, Yup’ik, Čup’ik, and Inupiat villages. Our few priests and religious must travel great distances and endure harsh environmental conditions, difficult terrain, and extreme poverty to do their work. Most cover multiple parishes, traveling via small plane, boat, or snow machine depending on the season. Many parishioners consider themselves fortunate if they receive sacraments from a priest every two or three months! These parishes and missions depend on the support of grant funding and individual donations from across the country and around the world.