Holy Rosary Mission of Alaska: Flying through Lake Clark Pass

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Flying through Lake Clark Pass

By Fr. Scott Joseph Garrett

Flying to Anchorage through Lake Clark Pass:

Here are a couple of videos I took while flying through Lake Clark Pass on December 29th, 2009. From Dillingham to Anchorage took 4.1 hours because of a head wind. I climbed to 8,500 feet as I entered the pass but the wind was way too strong so I dropped down to 4,500.

After dropping down to a lower altitude I took another video

Fly safe out there and Happy New Year!

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Holy Rosary Parish Mission

Holy Rosary Mission parishioners drive through blizzards, snow, ice, and extreme winds to get to Mass. Depending on the village location, some use four-wheelers or snow machines. Parishioners in the larger communities, such as Dillingham and King Salmon, have cars and trucks that have arrived on a cargo plane or boat. There are approximately three barges per year that sail around the Aleutian Chain to Bristol Bay.

Because of the rugged living conditions, clergy in the past have been transitional and our parishioners have had to take ownership of their churches. Determined Catholic parishioners have learned to give flawless communion services, clean up flooding basements, keep the grass mowed, patch chuck-holes in the parking lot, and basically take charge of anything that needs done. For example, Holy Rosary, has a cleaning list posted in the vestibule that is always full a year in advance. Our faithful and spirited parishioners have allowed Catholicism to remain a viable religion in the Alaskan Bush.

Located in Dillingham, Alaska, Holy Rosary church congregates on ten acres of land near the Dillingham Airport. It is considered a Mission Parish, hence the confusion of calling it a mission or a parish.

The church building at Holy Rosary was built in the 1980's with funds from several generous local parishioners and the Catholic Extension Society. It is located on the West end of a one acre gravel parking lot. The building was designed and constructed by local contractors.

Built in the 1940,s, the Holy Rosary rectory is located on the East end of the parking lot. It is a three bedroom structure with basement and garage.

Between the church and the rectory is the old church, which was used after a fire burned down the original church building. Plans are being made to repair this church so it can be used for meetings and fund raisers.

The Holy Rosary Parish Mission consists of two other church buildings located in King Salmon and Clarks Point. Additionally, over twenty villages are considered part of the mission. Mass in these other villages is normally held in houses, schools, or fish canneries.

There are no roads leading to or from any villages in the Holy Rosary mission territory. Any personal contact made to these Catholics must be done by air.

Please click here for more detail about the History of this important Alaskan mission.

Father Scott Garrett

Father Scott is the Pastor of the Holy Rosary Mission and (unofficially) he ministers to the largest parish in the world. And although geographically he covers a vast area, the total number of families in his parish is approximately 150.

Father Scott's unique mode of transportation is a 160 Cherokee Warrior which he uses to fly to the many remote areas within his parish. After landing on one of the many dirt airstrips, he is normally picked up on a three wheeler or snowmachine. He is then taken to either a viliager's house, a school, or a cannery to offer Mass and cetechetical instruction. With the unpredictable weather of SW Alaska, Father Scott's schedule is always written lightly in pencil

When not in flight, Father Scott stays busy maintaining a church, rectory, and cemetery on ten acres of property. Within the larger Dillingham community he may be found ministering to a sick person at the Kanakanak hospital , eating lunch at the Dillingham Senior Center, blessing the fishing fleet, or attending an althletic event or graduation ceremony.

Blessed Drinking Water for People in Dillingham

One of the important services Holy Rosary provides for the community of Dillingham is drinking water. The well at Holy Rosary is probably the purest, cleanest, and coldest in Dillingham.

Many Dillinghammers do not have good water and people from all walks of life line up at our pump to fill up on water. They fill up buckets, trash cans, jars, and water bottles. Basketball teams line up as do sports fisherman and airport personnel. Since many people in Dillingham do not even have water, they have come to depend on the well at Holy Rosary.

The late Jim Kelly blessed the entire well. Most people who get water at Holy Rosary all know the water is blessed. Near the well, a sign is posted asking people to slip a small donation inside the mail slot on the door to help pay for electricity and maintenance.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Flying through Lake Clark Pass

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