About Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Juneau, Alaska
The Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the historic Roman Catholic cathedral located at 416 Fifth Street in downtown Juneau, Alaska, and may be the smallest cathedral in North America. Founded in 1885 to serve Alaska's gold-mining community in the Silverbow Basin, the present wood-frame church was built in 1910 and was elevated to cathedral status in 1951 when the Diocese of Juneau was created. Since 2020, following the merger of the Diocese of Juneau with the Archdiocese of Anchorage, it has served as co-cathedral of the new Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau, sharing that role with Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Anchorage. The parish welcomes both longtime Juneau residents and the many summer visitors who arrive by cruise ship, ferry, or commercial airliner, and it remains a vibrant faith community in the heart of Alaska's capital city.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Patrick Casey, O.M.I.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau (formerly Diocese of Juneau)
Why belong here
The Co-Cathedral of the Nativity offers the rare experience of belonging to a small, historic Catholic community that is also the co-cathedral of the entire Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. Parishioners value its three Sunday/weekday Mass schedule, weekday noon Mass, and Saturday Vigil, along with regular Saturday confessions, faith formation for children and youth, sacramental preparation, and active liturgical and pastoral ministry led by Father Patrick Casey, O.M.I. with two deacons and a parish council. The parish explicitly welcomes summer visitors arriving by cruise ship, ferry, or air, and its central downtown location makes it a true "beacon on the hill" in the heart of Alaska's capital — a place to worship, to serve, and to encounter the wider Church in southeast Alaska.
Mass times at Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–5:00 PM
- By appointment
History of the Co-Cathedral
The Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the oldest Catholic parish in Juneau, founded in 1885 by Father John Althoff at the behest of Bishop Charles John Seghers to serve the gold miners of the Silverbow Basin. The first small wooden church on Fifth Street, built by the miners themselves in 1886, served the community for a generation before being replaced in 1910 by the present wood-frame cathedral. It became a cathedral parish in 1951 with the creation of the Diocese of Juneau and, in 2020, was designated a co-cathedral of the new Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau.
- 1885 — Father John Althoff arrives to pastor the Silverbow Basin miners
- 1886 — First small church built on the present Fifth Street block by the miners
- 1910 — Present cathedral building erected by Father Edward Brown, S.J., and the Sisters of Saint Ann
- 1951 — Consecrated as cathedral with the creation of the Diocese of Juneau; Bishop O'Flanagan installed
- Mid-1950s — Side chapel added
- 1962 — Mission church established in Mendenhall Valley
- 1972 — Mission becomes independent St. Paul the Apostle Parish under Bishop Hurley
- 1986 — Metal roof and vinyl siding installed
- 2001 — Bishop Warfel begins push for a new 350-seat cathedral
- 2007–2010 — Father Thomas Weiss produces architectural rendering
- 2013 — Bishop Burns forms Cathedral Renovation Working Group
- 2019 — Major renovation fundraising begins with Bishop Bellisario's support
- May 19, 2020 — Diocese of Juneau merged into Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau
- September 17, 2020 — Archbishop Bellisario installed; church becomes co-cathedral
- April 2024 — Sanctuary cleared for renovation; Mass moves to St. Ann Parish Hall; target completion Easter 2027
The Cathedral Building
The cathedral is a wood-frame structure completed in 1910, sitting on the same city block where the original 1886 miners' church stood. It is widely regarded as the smallest cathedral in the United States. Practical upgrades in 1986 — a metal roof and vinyl siding — helped the building withstand Juneau's rainforest climate, and a major renovation launched in 2024 (Dawson Construction, target completion Easter 2027) is intended to refresh and update the building for the next half-century.
- Wood-frame construction completed 1910
- Side chapel added mid-1950s
- Metal roof and vinyl siding installed 1986
- Crimont Business Center, St. Ann Parish Hall, Education Center, and rectory on the same city block
- Smallest cathedral in the United States
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Father Patrick Casey, O.M.I., a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate who has served as rector since 2010. He is assisted by two permanent deacons, a Director of Religious Education, and an Office Manager. The parish also benefits from a five-member Parish Council.
- Rector and Pastor — Rev. Patrick Casey, O.M.I.
- Pastoral Associate — Deacon Steve Olmstead
- Director of Liturgy (Co-Diocese of Juneau) — Deacon Charles Rohrbacher
- Office Manager — Cece Lihou
- Director of Religious Education — Bridget Goertzen
- Victim Assistance Coordinator — Robbie Izzard
- Parish Council — Brian Holst, Rich Pratt, Carl Uchytil, Jo Betts, Barbara Cadiente-Nelson
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Under Director of Religious Education Bridget Goertzen, the parish offers ongoing faith formation for children, middle school, and high school youth, as well as sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau Office of Faith Formation.
- Director of Religious Education: Bridget Goertzen (907-586-1317 / [email protected])
- Sacramental Preparation office
- Middle and High School Youth Group — Leora Houtary and Bridget Goertzen
Liturgy, Music, and Iconography
Liturgy at the cathedral is coordinated by Deacon Charles Rohrbacher, who serves as Director of Liturgy for the Co-Diocese of Juneau and is also on the staff of the Deacon Formation program. A noted iconographer trained in San Francisco, New York, and Paris under Dmitri Shkolnik and Father Egon Sendler, SJ, Deacon Rohrbacher has illustrated three ritual books for Liturgical Press and continues to teach iconography from his home on Douglas Island.
- Director of Liturgy: Deacon Charles Rohrbacher
- Three illustrated liturgical books published by Liturgical Press: Book of the Elect, The Illuminated Easter Proclamation, The Passion of Holy Week
Welcome to Visitors and Summer Outreach
The parish explicitly welcomes out-of-town visitors who arrive by cruise ship, Alaska Marine Highway ferry, or commercial airline — particularly during the busy mid-April through mid-September cruise season. The parish's Community Outreach / Port Services ministry is the parish's main point of contact for visitors looking to attend Mass, receive the sacraments, or simply visit the cathedral while in Juneau.
- Community Outreach / Port Services ministry for cruise-ship, ferry, and airline visitors
- Cruise season: mid-April to mid-September
Cathedral Renovation Campaign
After more than a century of continuous service in Juneau's wet climate, the cathedral is undergoing a major renovation intended to extend its life for the next fifty-plus years. The entire sanctuary was cleared beginning April 6, 2024, and weekend and weekday Masses moved to St. Ann Parish Hall. Dawson Construction is the contractor; the parish hopes to complete the work by Easter 2027.
- Renovation launched April 2024
- Dawson Construction selected as contractor
- Mass relocated to St. Ann Parish Hall during construction
- Target completion: Easter 2027
Parish Governance and Council
Day-to-day parish governance is supported by a five-member elected Parish Council working with the pastor and staff.
- Brian Holst — 907-463-3074
- Rich Pratt — 907-790-4288
- Carl Uchytil — 907-957-5526
- Jo Betts — 907-780-8637
- Barbara Cadiente-Nelson — 907-723-9367
Parish Identity and Mission
The parish mission statement reads: "We, the Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are a beacon on the hill in the heart of Juneau. We welcome everyone to participate in our rich Catholic traditions. As a Christian faith community, we, disciples of Jesus, compassionately serve in action, in worship, and through our relationships."
- Self-description: 'a beacon on the hill in the heart of Juneau'
- Focus on welcome, Catholic tradition, and compassionate service
Diocese and Governance
The Co-Cathedral is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau, formed in 2020 by the merger of the former Archdiocese of Anchorage and the Diocese of Juneau. It shares co-cathedral status with Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Anchorage. The current Archbishop is Most Reverend Andrew E. Bellisario, C.M., a Vincentian (Congregation of the Mission) appointed sixth Bishop of Juneau in 2017 and first Archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau in 2020.
- Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau (since May 19, 2020)
- Sister co-cathedral: Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral, Anchorage
- Archbishop: Most Rev. Andrew E. Bellisario, C.M.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Althoff1885–
First pastor. Sent by Bishop Charles John Seghers in 1885 to serve the gold-mining community in the Silverbow Basin; with the miners he built a small wooden church on Fifth Street in 1886.
- Rev. Edward Brown, S.J.before 1910 –
Identified as the parish's third pastor; oversaw the construction of the present wood-frame cathedral building in 1910. (The second pastor's name is not named in the sources reviewed.)
- Rev. Patrick Casey, O.M.I.2010–present
Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate, ordained 1980; previously served as pastor in St. Louis, Chicago, and Petersburg, Alaska; has been Rector of the cathedral since 2010 and is leading the current major renovation.
 "Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary")