Diocese of Fairbanks

---

Bishop(s) Donald Joseph Kettler, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 8 August 1962 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Anchorage Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: Alaska Country: United States of America Square Kilometers: 1,061,508 (409,849 Square Miles) Conference Region: XII (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA) Catholic Directory Abbreviation: FBK Official Web Site: http://www.cbna.info/ Mailing Address: 1316 Peger Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709 Telephone: (907)374-9500 Fax: 374-9580

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Alaska
  • Latin Name: Alaskensis
  • Erected: 27 July 1894
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Seattle
  • State: Alaska
  • Country: United States of America
  • Square Miles: 586,400

• Vicariate Apostolic of Alaska
  • Latin Name: Alaskensis
  • Elevated: 22 December 1916
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Seattle
  • State: Alaska
  • Country: United States of America

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Paschal Tosi, S.J. † (27 Jul 1894 Appointed - 13 Sep 1897 Resigned)
• Jean Baptist Rene, S.J. † (16 Mar 1897 Appointed - 28 Mar 1904 Resigned)
• Joseph Raphael John Crimont, S.J. † (28 Mar 1904 Appointed - 20 May 1945 Died)
• Walter James Fitzgerald, S.J. † (20 May 1945 Succeeded - 19 Jul 1947 Died)
• Francis Doyle Gleeson, S.J. † (8 Jan 1948 Appointed - 15 Nov 1968 Resigned)
• Robert Louis Whelan, S.J. † (15 Nov 1968 Succeeded - 1 Jun 1985 Retired)
• Michael Joseph Kaniecki, S.J. † (1 Jun 1985 Succeeded - 6 Aug 2000 Died)
• Donald Joseph Kettler (7 Jun 2002 Appointed - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Alaska
27 July 1894	Erected	Diocese of New Westminster Archdiocese of Victoria	Prefecture Apostolic of Alaska (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Alaska
22 December 1916	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Alaska	Vicariate Apostolic of Alaska
23 June 1951	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Alaska	Diocese of Juneau (erected)
Diocese of Fairbanks
8 August 1962	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Alaska	Diocese of Fairbanks

---

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Alaska
1950	11,892	132,000	9.0%	9	26	35	339		35	73	25	ap1951
Diocese of Fairbanks
1966	11,500	75,000	15.3%	8	24	32	359				16	ap1967
1970	12,775	88,269	14.5%	2	35	37	345		42	24	24	ap1971
1976	13,820	106,225	13.0%	3	36	39	354	4	45	27	27	ap1977
1980	14,200	118,600	12.0%	4	36	40	355	26	46	51	27	ap1981
1990	17,248	127,000	13.6%	6	26	32	539	38	31	26	42	ap1991
1999	16,846	141,759	11.9%	5	24	29	580	40	4	16	41	ap2000
2000	17,068	141,760	12.0%	10	22	32	533	41	26	21	48	ap2001
2001	17,132	145,223	11.8%	11	17	28	611	35	21	20	48	ap2002
2002	17,700	145,125	12.2%	10	18	28	632	35	21	20	19	ap2003
2003	18,931	144,291	13.1%	9	15	24	788	28	18	15	48	ap2004
2004	17,978	144,567	12.4%	9	15	24	749	29	18	20	46	ap2005
2006	18,000	160,000	11.3%	12	15	27	666		18	20	47	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

---

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Donald Joseph Kettler (Bishop: 7 Jun 2002 - )
• Michael William Warfel (Apostolic Administrator: 23 Oct 2001 to 7 Jun 2002)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• George Theodore Boileau, S.J. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 21 Apr 1964 to 25 Feb 1965)
• Joseph Raphael John Crimont, S.J. † (Prefect: 28 Mar 1904; Vicar Apostolic: 15 Feb 1917 to 20 May 1945)
• Walter James Fitzgerald, S.J. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 14 Dec 1938; Vicar Apostolic: 20 May 1945 to 19 Jul 1947)
• Francis Doyle Gleeson, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jan 1948; Bishop: 8 Aug 1962 to 15 Nov 1968)
• Michael Joseph Kaniecki, S.J. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 8 Mar 1984; Bishop: 1 Jun 1985 to 6 Aug 2000)
• Robert Dermot O'Flanagan † (Priest: 27 Aug 1929 to 9 Jul 1951)
• Jean Baptist Rene, S.J. † (Prefect: 16 Mar 1897 to 28 Mar 1904)
• Paschal Tosi, S.J. † (Prefect: 27 Jul 1894 to 13 Sep 1897)
• Robert Louis Whelan, S.J. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 6 Dec 1967; Bishop: 15 Nov 1968 to 1 Jun 1985)