Sacred Heart Cathedral

History of Sacred Heart Cathedral

Built between 1962 and 1966 at the corner of Airport Way and Peger Road, Sacred Heart Cathedral was conceived by Bishop Francis Doyle Gleeson, S.J., first Ordinary of the newly created Diocese of Fairbanks, as the 'cathedral of the North' — the chair of authority for what is the largest Catholic diocese in the United States by area. Construction proceeded slowly under Father James C. Spils, S.J., as both designer and construction superintendent, financed as money and volunteer labor allowed. The first Mass was celebrated on Palm Sunday, April 3, 1966, with Bishop Gleeson as the main celebrant; during that Holy Week the bishop blessed the Holy Oils for the first time in Alaska's history. The cathedral was formally dedicated on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, June 17, 1966, and has been in continuous Catholic use ever since. Jesuits served the parish from 1966 until 1982, when diocesan priests took over.

Parish Ministries and Faith Formation

The cathedral's parish life centers on forming disciples of all ages. Children meet for Religious Education on Sundays from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Adults seeking to enter the Church journey through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) — Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification & Enlightenment, Mystagogy, and the Symbolon program on FORMED. An Adult Confirmation Class is offered alongside a Confirmation & Youth Group for teens. The parish also maintains a parishwide subscription to FORMED, the Augustine Institute's Catholic streaming library, free of charge for parishioners.

• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
• Children's Religious Education (Sun 9:30–10:30 AM)
• Adult Confirmation Class
• Confirmation & Youth Group
• FORMED parishwide subscription
• Stephen Ministry (Cheryl La Follette)
• Hispanic Ministry

Sacred Heart Cathedral Staff and Clergy

The parish is pastored by Father Peter Soohyun Bang, with Bishop Steven J. Maekawa, O.P., serving as the diocesan bishop and pastor-of-record at the cathedral since his ordination and installation in October 2023. Two deacons — Deacon Robert P. Barnard, LPC-S, and Deacon Paul Perreault, PE — assist with pastoral care. Mother Salvation serves as Director of Religious Education; Cheryl La Follette directs the Stephen Ministry; and Sara Raines is the parish bookkeeper.

• Fr. Peter Soohyun Bang — Pastor ([email protected])
• Bishop Steven J. Maekawa, O.P. — Bishop of Fairbanks
• Dcn. Robert P. Barnard, LPC-S — [email protected]
• Dcn. Paul Perreault, PE — [email protected]
• Mother Salvation — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
• Cheryl La Follette — Stephen Ministry ([email protected])
• Sara Raines — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
• Parish Office: [email protected]

Parish Library and Oratory

The cathedral maintains an oratory that serves as a parish library, open Saturday mornings from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. It complements the parishwide FORMED subscription and the cathedral's other faith-formation offerings.

• Oratory / Parish Library open Saturdays 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sacred Heart Cathedral and Saint Mark University Parish

Saint Mark University Parish serves the University of Alaska Fairbanks community and, uniquely, does not have a church building of its own. The parish reaches Catholic students on the UAF campus through Saint Mark's house on Copper Lane, gatherings for 'fun, faith and fellowship,' student retreats, service projects, and outdoor excursions into Alaska's interior. Since Sacred Heart Cathedral lacks a separate Sunday evening Mass, the 5:30 PM Sunday Mass at the cathedral is celebrated specifically for Saint Mark Parish, with weekday and small-group worship centered on the Copper Lane house chapel.

• 5:30 PM Sunday Mass at SHC for Saint Mark Parish
• UAF campus ministry — Copper Lane house chapel
• Student retreats, service, and 'fun, faith and fellowship'

The Diocese of Fairbanks

Established on August 8, 1962 by Pope John XXIII, the Diocese of Fairbanks covers roughly 409,849 square miles — about two-thirds of Alaska — and is the largest Catholic diocese in the United States by area. It encompasses 46 parishes and missions, many of which are inaccessible by road and can only be reached by boat, snowmachine, or air. Only eight of those parishes and missions are self-supporting. The diocese has had seven bishops: Francis Doyle Gleeson, S.J. (1962–1968); Robert L. Whelan, S.J. (1968–1985); Michael J. Kaniecki (1985–2000, died in office); Donald J. Kettler (2002–present for the diocese; pastor of SHC 2007–2013); and Steven J. Maekawa, O.P., ordained and installed October 12, 2023. Sister Eileen Brown, S.N.J.M., served as Diocesan Chancellor from 1985 to 1992, making the diocese one of the very first in the country to have a woman chancellor.

• Diocese covers 409,849 sq mi — largest U.S. diocese by area
• 46 parishes and missions; only 8 self-supporting
• Approx. 164,000 people; ~12% Catholic
• Bishop Steven J. Maekawa, O.P. — seventh bishop (ordained Oct. 12, 2023)

Visiting Sacred Heart Cathedral

Visitors are welcomed to weekday Masses (Mon–Fri 7:30 AM), Saturday morning Mass (9:00 AM) and the Saturday Vigil (4:30 PM), Sunday Masses (8:00, 11:00 AM English; 1:00 PM Spanish; 5:30 PM for Saint Mark Parish), Eucharistic Adoration (Thu 8:05 AM – 12:00 PM; Sat 3:00 – 4:00 PM), and Saturday confessions (3:00 – 4:00 PM). The parish office is open 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. The cathedral grounds include the diocesan offices, a rectory, a Knights of Columbus hall, maintenance buildings, and additional residences for priests, nuns, and others; the steeple added in 1994 rises above the birch trees to the north and is a landmark visible from the Airport Way expressway.

• Office hours 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Mon–Fri
• Phone (907) 474-9032
• Email [email protected]
• Address: 1300 Peger Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99709