Roman Catholic Diocese of Juneau
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Juneau (Latin: Dioecesis Junellensis) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church
in the northwestern United States
, comprising the southeastern part of the state of Alaska
. It is led by a prelate
bishop
which serves as pastor
of the mother church
, Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
in the City of Juneau
. In 2007, this diocese became vacant when the previous bishop
, Most Reverend Michael W. Warfel
, was appointed bishop of Great Falls-Billings. On 19 January 2009, it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI
had named Monsignor Edward J. Burns
, a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
, as Bishop of Juneau. He was installed on 5 April 2009. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Anchorage
.
The See of Juneau was canonically erected on June 23, 1951 and has had five bishops. It took its territory from the former Apostolic Vicariate of Alaska
.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in the northwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, comprising the southeastern part of the state of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It is led by a prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
which serves as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the mother church
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
, Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau
The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Juneau. The cathedral is located at 416 Fifth Street in Juneau, Alaska. The cathedral may be the smallest in North America....
in the City of Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
. In 2007, this diocese became vacant when the previous bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, Most Reverend Michael W. Warfel
Michael William Warfel
Michael William Warfel is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the seventh and current Bishop of Great Falls-Billings.-Biography:...
, was appointed bishop of Great Falls-Billings. On 19 January 2009, it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
had named Monsignor Edward J. Burns
Edward J. Burns
Edward James Burns is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the fifth and current Bishop of Juneau.-Early life and education:...
, a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
, as Bishop of Juneau. He was installed on 5 April 2009. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Anchorage
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern United States, comprising several boroughs and census areas in the state of Alaska. It is led by a prelate archbishop which serves as pastor of the mother church,...
.
The See of Juneau was canonically erected on June 23, 1951 and has had five bishops. It took its territory from the former Apostolic Vicariate of Alaska
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern United States, comprising the northern regions of the state of Alaska. It is led by a prelate bishop which serves as pastor of the mother church, Cathedral of the...
.
Bishops
- Robert Dermot O'FlanaganRobert Dermot O'FlanaganRobert Dermot O'Flanagan was an Irish-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Juneau from 1951 to 1968.-Biography:...
(1951-1968) - Francis Thomas HurleyFrancis Thomas HurleyFrancis Thomas Hurley is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Anchorage from 1976 to 2001.-Biography:...
(1971-1976) - Michael Hughes KennyMichael Hughes KennyMichael Hughes Kenny, was a 20th century bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as Bishop of the Diocese of Juneau in the state of Alaska from 1979-1995.-Biography:...
(1979-1995) - Michael William WarfelMichael William WarfelMichael William Warfel is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the seventh and current Bishop of Great Falls-Billings.-Biography:...
(1996-2007) - Edward J. BurnsEdward J. BurnsEdward James Burns is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the fifth and current Bishop of Juneau.-Early life and education:...
(2009-present)
Parishes, missions and shrines
- Sacred Heart, Hoonah
- Holy Family, Gustavus (Mission)
- Sacred Heart, Haines
- The Cathedral of the Nativity, Juneau
- St Paul the Apostle, Juneau
- The Shrine of St. Therese, Juneau (Shrine and Mission)
- Holy Name Parish, Ketchikan
- Holy Family, Metlakatla (Mission)
- Body of Christ, Pelican (Mission)
- St. Catherine of Siena, Petersburg
- St John by the Sea, Klawock (Prince of Wales Island)
- St Gregory of Nazianzen, Sitka
- St Therese, Skagway
- St Francis Chapel, Tenakee Springs (Mission)
- St Rose of Lima, Wrangell (The oldest established Parish in Alaska)
- St Ann, Yakutat