About Saint Michael the Archangel, JBER · Anchorage, Alaska
Saint Michael the Archangel is the Catholic parish serving Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska — the combined U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army installation formed in 2010 from the merger of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson. The parish is canonically a Roman Rite community within the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau, and its Sunday Mass is celebrated at the Arctic Warrior Chapel (Building 3, Headquarters Loop) on the JBER-Richardson side of the base. Named for the archangel revered as patron of soldiers and police, the community offers a remarkably rich schedule for a military chapel: one Sunday Mass plus four weekday noon Masses (rotating among Heritage Chapel, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel inside the Arctic Warrior Chapel, and the hospital chapel) and a monthly First Saturday Mass. The parish also runs Catholic Religious Education, Confirmation, RCIA, Catholic Youth, Catholic Young Adult ministries, and the Catholic Women of the Chapel — all coordinated through the JBER Religious Operations Center (JROC).
- Patron
- Saint Michael the Archangel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau (with pastoral support from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA)
Why belong here
Saint Michael the Archangel offers an unusually rich liturgical life for a military chapel: a Sunday Mass, four weekday noon Masses, a monthly First Saturday Mass, and Sunday confessions — all coordinated across the Arctic Warrior Chapel, Heritage Chapel, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (housed within the Arctic Warrior Chapel), and the base hospital chapel. For Catholic military families, the parish is built around their specific needs, with Catholic Religious Education (including sacramental preparation for Confirmation), RCIA, Catholic Youth ministry, Catholic Young Adult ministry, and Catholic Women of the Chapel meeting throughout the week. The chapel's own mission statement calls it 'a hub of connection and community' and 'a center of gravity for personal and community spiritual wellness,' ensuring First Amendment religious accommodation for all service members and families assigned to JBER.
Mass times at Saint Michael the Archangel, JBER
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays, beginning 30 minutes before Mass (approximately 8:30 AM)
Saint Michael the Archangel Parish at JBER
Saint Michael the Archangel is the Catholic community serving Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska. It is a Roman Rite parish within the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau, drawing pastoral support from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and staffed jointly by Air Force and Army chaplains of the 673rd Air Base Wing and USARAK. The community gathers primarily at the Arctic Warrior Chapel on the JBER-Richardson side of the installation, with additional weekday Masses at Heritage Chapel, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and the base hospital chapel.
History of the Parish and Chapel
Catholic life at what is now JBER long predates the joint base. The Arctic Warrior Chapel served for decades as the primary Catholic and Protestant worship center on the Fort Richardson side of the installation. When Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson merged on January 31, 2010 to form JBER, the chapel was renamed Arctic Warrior Chapel and consolidated as the main hub for religious services, religious education, and fellowship on the combined installation. The early 2020s brought a major renovation of the Arctic Warrior Chapel to address Alaska's harsh climate, including new flooring, paint, furnishings, and — notably — repairs to stained glass windows damaged in the November 30, 2018 magnitude-7.1 earthquake that struck Southcentral Alaska.
- JBER established January 31, 2010, from merger of Elmendorf AFB and Fort Richardson (BRAC 2005)
- Arctic Warrior Chapel renovations completed in early 2020s
- Stained glass window repairs following the 2018 Southcentral Alaska earthquake
- Reaches an estimated 42,780 community members each year through programs and events
Ministries and Faith Formation
Faith formation at JBER Catholic runs through Catholic Religious Education, which meets after Sunday Mass at the Arctic Warrior Chapel. Programs cover the sacramental life of parish families — Confirmation preparation, RCIA for adults discerning the faith, and ongoing religious education for children and youth — alongside dedicated Catholic Youth and Catholic Young Adult ministries. Club Beyond, a recognized military-community youth program, hosts weekly gatherings for middle and high school teens.
- Catholic Religious Education (after Sunday Mass, Arctic Warrior Chapel)
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Confirmation preparation
- Catholic Youth ministry
- Catholic Young Adult ministry
- Club Beyond (weekly middle- and high-school youth program)
Catholic Women of the Chapel
The Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC) is the parish's women's fellowship and faith-sharing ministry, meeting twice weekly at JBER to support the spiritual and social needs of military spouses, women service members, and other Catholic women in the community.
- Tuesdays at 9:30 AM — Blessed Sacrament Chapel (inside Arctic Warrior Chapel)
- Wednesdays at 6:00 PM — Arctic Warrior Chapel
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
Because JBER is a joint base, Catholic ministry there is staffed by both U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army chaplains working together. The senior chaplain leads the 673rd Air Base Wing Chaplain Corps and an Army major serves as deputy installation chaplain. All counseling is provided under 100% privileged communication — the Chaplain Corps' only 100% confidential helping agency on the installation.
- U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Col.) J. Brian Anderson — senior chaplain, 673rd Air Base Wing Chaplain Corps
- U.S. Army Chaplain (Maj.) Robert Davis — deputy installation chaplain
- 24/7 crisis pastoral counseling via 673rd Command Post (907-552-3000) or USARAK COC (907-384-6666)
Sacraments
The parish offers the full sacramental life expected of a Catholic community — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation — within the rhythms of a transient military population. Couples must contact the chaplain corps at least six months before a requested marriage date.
- Baptism
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage (6-month preparation requirement)
- Reconciliation (Sunday before Mass)
- Anointing of the Sick / pastoral counseling
Chapel Facilities and How to Find Us
JBER's chapel system is run from the Religious Operations Center (JROC) on the Elmendorf side and serves Catholics and Protestants across both the Elmendorf and Richardson installations. The Arctic Warrior Chapel, where Catholic Sunday Mass is celebrated, sits at Building 3 on Headquarters Loop, JBER-Richardson, directly across from the USARAK Headquarters building.
- Arctic Warrior Chapel — Building 3, Headquarters Loop, JBER-Richardson (across from USARAK HQ)
- Heritage Chapel — Building 9431, Luke Ave, JBER-Elmendorf (across from C-17 simulator)
- Midnight Sun Chapel — Building 7137, Fighter Dr, JBER-Elmendorf (next to Polar Bowl)
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel — inside Arctic Warrior Chapel
- Base hospital chapel (2nd floor) — Wednesday noon Mass site
- JBER Religious Operations Center (JROC) — Building 4984, Zuckert Ave, JBER-Elmendorf (behind hospital)
- Chaplain Family Life Center — 714 1st Street, JBER-Richardson
Contact and Access
The parish is reached primarily through the Arctic Warrior Chapel office and the central JBER Religious Operations Center (JROC). The chaplains can be reached after duty hours through the 673rd Command Post (USAF) or the 11th Airborne/USARAK COC (USA). Public access to the chapel is limited but available, with non-DoD visitors coordinating entry through the base gate and the JROC.
- Arctic Warrior Chapel: (907) 551-4899
- JBER Religious Operations Center (JROC): (907) 552-5762 / 552-JROC
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/JBERChaplain
- After-duty chaplain: 673rd Command Post (907) 552-3000; USARAK COC (907) 384-6666