North Pole - Saint Nicholas Catholic Church
Populations increased greatly in the North Pole area especially during the late 1960's and early 1970's. Many factors contributed to population growth which, consequently, influenced the bishop's decision to establish a permanent Catholic presence. One factor was the growing military presence nearby. Military personnel and their families settled into the region along with others looking for a more rural lifestyle. Other factors were an oil refinery and new high school. After much consideration, Bishop Robert Whelan, S.J., found it timely to establish a permanent Catholic presence in the city of North Pole.
Catholic organization was not new in the city, however. The seeds of Church at North Pole had been planted years earlier by two key persons. One was Fr. Lawrence Nevue, S.J., who in the 1950's, would regularly commute to North Pole and visit the Catholic community from his Fairbanks parish. The other person, who is credited with gathering the Catholic flock into a cohesive unit, is Sr. Alice Legault, S.S.A. Sister Alice organized bible studies, home Masses or other activities of worship, often using North Pole Grange Hall as base of operation. Meanwhile, other Jesuits of the Fairbanks community served as visiting priests. During the early 1960's Bishop Francis Gleeson, S.J., with a long term vision of Catholic presence in North Pole, had purchased land and obtained an Army surplus building to house the worshipping community. The Bishop's actions and those of other Jesuits following in Fr. Nevue's footsteps, as well as Sr. Alice's, anticipated parish beginnings. The Catholic Extension Society also participated in community building, by contributing funds to facilitate a parish institution. Once the Catholic community began to prosper, a name was chosen for the parish. According to Becky Applebee, in History of the Founding of Saint Nicholas Church, North Pole, Alaska, Archbishop O'Brien, head of the Extension Society, requested that it be appropriately named "St. Nicholas Church."
With a thriving congregation, a new building to house the community would be an important component. In the early 1970's, Ken and June Ulz, who had been a former Jesuit Volunteer, donated land as the site for a new church. By this time, Bishop Robert Whelan, S.J., succeeded Bishop Gleeson. Bishop Whelan made contact with Paulist priests, through James Kolb, another former Jesuit Volunteer and, at this time, a seminarian, and was able to recruit Paulists to commit to staffing a permanent parish. More financial aid arrived from both the Diocese of Fairbanks and the Extension Society. In 1975, planning began in earnest. Fr. Richard McCaffrey, S.J., was delegated to supervise implementation procedures for the new church. Fr. Kolb, in his annotated biography, records the beginning of construction: "on the last Saturday of August 1975, (Fr.) Lou McKernan and myself began to build the first foundation at what was to become St. Nicholas, North Pole." On September 28, 1975 Mass was celebrated at the Grange Hall which was used as a "gathering place" until a new church was completed. Fr. Louis McKernan, C.S.P., was formally appointed Pastor and James Kolb, his Assistant, though he had not yet been ordained. The first parish council was established at that time and Ms. Jeannette Therriault was elected President. The Church was completed, and then dedicated, in 1978. "Much of the construction was done by parishioners. The lectern, diamond willow cross, log altar and tabernacle--styled as an Alaskan Cache--were handmade as well." (North Pole Independent).
Paulists priests continued the work established by Fr. McKernan, Saint Nicholas' first pastor, until 1995. Jesuit Volunteers, parishioners and later, Deacons also contributed to parish formation. St. Nicholas parish has developed into a strong community and celebrated its silver jubilee during September of 2000. A new addition to the church was constructed. Fr. Al Levitre was Saint Nicholas' seventh Pastor.