About Sacred Heart · Hoonah, Alaska
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hoonah, Alaska, is a small Tlingit Catholic mission located at 714 East Lincoln Street in the Southeast Alaska community of Hoonah. It serves as a mission church of the Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau and falls under the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau, which was formed in 2020 when the former Diocese of Juneau was merged with the Archdiocese of Anchorage. The parish was established during Bishop Francis T. Hurley's tenure (1971–1976) and is notable for its distinctive Tlingit-style artwork, including a crucifix painted by local art teacher Claudia McConnel that fuses Indigenous totemic art with Christian devotion.
- Established
- 1971
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau (formerly Diocese of Juneau until the 2020 merger)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers a rare opportunity to worship in a small, tight-knit Tlingit Catholic community in Southeast Alaska, where the parish has blended Indigenous totemic art with Catholic devotion for over fifty years. Visitors and parishioners experience the warmth of a mission community served by visiting priests and supported by dedicated lay leadership, parish directors, deacons, and lay presiders who keep the Liturgy of the Word with Communion active even when travel and weather prevent a priest from reaching Hoonah. The church's notable Tlingit-style Sacred Heart crucifix by artist Claudia McConnel makes it a unique spiritual and cultural landmark in the region.
About Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a small Tlingit Catholic mission located at 714 East Lincoln Street in Hoonah, Alaska. It is canonically a mission of the Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau and falls under the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau. Because Hoonah is a remote island community accessible only by boat or plane, the parish has developed a distinctive pattern of ministry that combines visiting priests with a strong lay-led liturgical tradition.
- Mission church of the Co-Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Juneau
- Jurisdiction: Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau (since 2020 merger)
- Located at 714 East Lincoln Street, Hoonah, AK 99819
- Phone: (907) 419-8633
- Served approximately 95 families as of 2010
History
Catholic missionary work in Hoonah began in the early 20th century under Bishop Joseph R. Crimont, S.J., who expanded Catholic outreach across Southeast Alaska after becoming the first Vicar Apostolic of Alaska in 1917. Juneau diocesan priests from St. Gregory's in Sitka attended to the Sacred Heart Mission in Hoonah from 1960 to 1976. Under Bishop Francis T. Hurley — a pilot who expanded ministry to remote communities — Sacred Heart Church was built in 1971 and dedicated with a striking Tlingit-style crucifix painted by local artist Claudia McConnel. In 2020 the Diocese of Juneau merged with the Archdiocese of Anchorage to form the new Metropolitan Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau, and Sacred Heart's canonical oversight was transferred accordingly.
- 1917–1945: Missionary work begins under Bishop Crimont, S.J.
- 1960–1976: Attended by Juneau diocesan priests from St. Gregory's, Sitka
- 1971: Sacred Heart Church built under Bishop Francis T. Hurley
- 1971: Tlingit-style crucifix painted by Claudia McConnel for the dedication
- 2004: Fr. James R. Blaney, OMI, becomes resident pastor
- 2020: Transferred from Diocese of Juneau to Archdiocese of Anchorage–Juneau
Tlingit Heritage and the Sacred Heart Crucifix
The most celebrated feature of Sacred Heart is its large painted crucifix depicting the Sacred Heart of Christ, created in 1971 by Hoonah art teacher Claudia McConnel on a six-foot piece of plywood. The artwork uniquely fuses the Tlingit Indian totemic art form with traditional Catholic Sacred Heart iconography. At the church's dedication, Bishop Hurley invited the Elders of the Village to be the first to see the painting. They remained in silent prayer for about 45 minutes; when Bishop Hurley approached, he found them with tears of joy, deeply moved by the way the crucifix spoke to both their Indigenous heritage and their Catholic faith.
- Artist: Claudia McConnel, Hoonah art teacher
- Medium: Paint on six-foot plywood board
- Style: Fusion of Tlingit totemic art and Sacred Heart of Jesus iconography
- Completed: 1971, for the church dedication
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
Because of Hoonah's remoteness, Sacred Heart has historically been served by a combination of visiting priests, a resident parish director (often a religious sister), deacons, and trained lay presiders. The Holy Family Sisters — particularly Sister Marie Ann Brent and Sister Victor Negrete — were sent to Hoonah by Bishop Hurley and were foundational in building the parish community. Fr. James R. Blaney, OMI, served as resident pastor beginning in 2004, also covering the parish of Yakutat and missions across Gustavus, Pelican, Kake, Tenakee, Elfin Cove, and Excursion Inlet.
- Sister Marie Ann Brent, SHF — early parish minister
- Sister Victor Negrete, SHF — Parish Director; led weekend Liturgy of the Word with Communion when no priest was present
- Fr. James R. Blaney, OMI — Resident pastor from 2004 (died 2013)
- Visiting priests fly in from Anchorage approximately twice a month
- Deacons and lay presiders support liturgy when priests cannot reach Hoonah
Mass and Liturgy
Because the parish is in a remote community reachable only by air or sea, the regular Mass schedule depends on priest availability and weather. When a priest is able to fly in from Anchorage — typically about twice a month — Mass is celebrated at the Saturday vigil and again on Sunday morning. On weekends when a priest is not scheduled or is kept from flying in by bad weather, the parish director, a deacon, or one of the trained lay presiders leads a Liturgy of the Word with Communion. Whether a priest is present or not, the community gathers fully with music and sacramental ministers. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to call the parish office at (907) 419-8633 to confirm current Mass times.
- Weekend Mass when priest present: Saturday vigil and Sunday morning
- Visiting priest frequency: approximately twice a month from Anchorage
- Lay-led Liturgy of the Word with Communion on non-priest weekends
- Music ministry active at every gathering
- Call (907) 419-8633 for current schedule
Sacraments
Sacraments at Sacred Heart are celebrated by arrangement with the visiting priests when they are in the community, or in coordination with the wider pastoral team covering the Southeast Alaska missions.
- Baptism — by arrangement
- Marriage — by arrangement
- First Communion and Confirmation — coordinated with visiting priests
Community and Outreach
Sacred Heart has long been a center of community life in Hoonah, with the church grounds hosting gatherings and outreach efforts. The parish grounds are adjacent to the Hoonah Healing Community Garden, a food-security initiative supported by SEARHC and local partners that has included a traditional foods plot tended with Hoonah Senior Center volunteers, diabetes-grant-supported plot fees and gardening supplies, and donations of raspberry, gooseberry, plum, and apple plants. The community garden sits next to the church and reflects the parish's broader role as a gathering place beyond worship.
- Hoonah Healing Community Garden — located next to the church
- Diabetes grant program (SEARHC) reducing financial barriers to gardening for AI/AN diabetic patients
- Traditional foods plot tended with Hoonah Senior Center volunteers
- Donations of raspberry, gooseberry, plum, and apple plants to community plots
Visiting Hoonah and Sacred Heart
Hoonah is located on Chichagof Island in Southeast Alaska's Inside Passage and is not connected to the road system. Most visitors arrive via the Alaska Marine Highway ferry or by scheduled air service from Juneau. Because Mass and sacramental celebrations depend on priest availability and weather, anyone planning to attend a liturgy at Sacred Heart is encouraged to call the parish office at (907) 419-8633 in advance. The parish welcomes visitors and is part of a wider network of small Catholic missions across the region.
- Access: Alaska Marine Highway ferry or scheduled air service from Juneau
- No road connection to the rest of Alaska
- Parish phone: (907) 419-8633
- Address: 714 East Lincoln Street, Hoonah, AK 99819
- Nearby missions: Gustavus, Pelican, Tenakee Springs, Yakutat
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James R. Blaney, OMI2004–
Resident pastor of Sacred Heart in Hoonah beginning 2004, also covering the parish of Yakutat and missions of Gustavus, Pelican, Kake, Tenakee, Elfin Cove, and Excursion Inlet; previously served as pastor of St. John's-by-the-Sea in Klawock and Sacred Heart in Haines/St. Therese in Skagway. He was adopted into the L'eeneidí (Raven/Dog Salmon house) and given two Tlingit names. Died in 2013.