Nenana - Saint Theresa Catholic Church
Nenana is located at the confluence of the Nenana and Tanana Rivers. The Parks Highway, one of Alaska's three main thoroughfares, parallels the Alaska Railroad as it crosses Nenana, while proceeding south to Anchorage. With that, the village of Nenana marks the beginning of a string of tiny parishes along the "rail belt". The Catholic parishes along the "rail belt" include Nenana, Healy, Anderson, Clear Air Force Station, Denali National Park (summers only), and Cantwell. A priest assigned to the "rail belt" circuit drives approximately 110 miles one way in order to serve each of the Catholic communities just mentioned.
Nenana's population is predominately Athapaskan with a small Caucasian minority. It was first Christianized by the Episcopal Church who founded Saint Mark's Mission at the turn of the 20th century. Catholics followed the Episcopalians while forming a tiny congregation which has not much changed in size since the early days. Fr. Francis Monroe, S.J., built a church at Nenana in the early 1900's. Another church was built there in the late 1940's. It burned to the ground in 1952 and was later rebuilt. After the Parks Highway was opened during the early 1970's, the Catholic communities along the highway were served by priests assigned from Fairbanks. Most priests, however, were in residence at Saint Theresa's church-living quarters. Not being stationary, priests once assigned to Nenana were considered men on the move. One priest who served from Nenana was Fr. Al Levitre, who referred to those who travelled the "rail belt" as "missionaries on wheels". Rightfully so, as one weekend Mass circuit to each community would take two days to complete, depending on weather or road conditions. Today, the Nenana church is no longer considered headquarters of the "rail belt" community. Holy Mary of Guadalupe at Healy replaced Nenana's Saint Theresa as home to the "missionaries on wheels" and the Sisters at Nenana have replaced priests as Religious residents.
Some resident priests who served the "rail belt" communities were Jesuit Frs. Lawrence Nevue, S.J., (1974-1976) and Paul Mueller, S.J., (1981). A diocesan priest, Fr. Al Levitre, was resident priest there in the 1980's. Sr. Pam Miller, O.P., took up residency there as Pastoral Administrator for the "rail belt" from 1989-1991. Sr. Agnes Wilcox, S.M.S.M., then took up residency as Pastoral Administrator for St. Theresa Parish. Fr. John Hinsvarck lived in Anderson, while he was serving as "rail belt" priest from 1991-1994.