50th Anniversary of the First Permanent Deacon Ordination in the Diocese of Fairbanks

On February 8, 1975, Bishop Whelan ordained the first Yup'ik Deacon to the permanent diaconate: Alvin Owletuck of Marshall, Alaska. Since then, over 50 Yup'ik men have been ordained deacons.

Our very own Bishop Gleeson saw a need for Alaskan Native Deacons and convinced his brother bishops to petition the Vatican for the restoration of the permanent diaconate in the United States. Some of the first permanent deacons in the United States were Alaskan Natives. These deacons led Catholic services, proclaimed the gospels, and preached in their own Yup'ik language.

Bishop Steve Maekawa would like to thank all the deacons and their wives for their years of ministry to the diocese's people.

In photographs: Dcn. Alvin Owletuck, Bishop Robert Whelan, S.J., Rev. Chuck Peterson, S.J.