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Bishop Donald Kettler

Bishop Donald Kettler is pictured on August 22, 2002, the day of his ordination as Bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks. Bishop Kettler is the fourth bishop for the Diocese of Fairbanks and the first diocesan priest to be raised to the title of Bishop for this Diocese.

Traditional Athabascan Flower Beadwork

 Pictured to the left and right of the central Yup'ik Mask of Jesus, are two traditional beadwork flowers of the Athabascan Indians. These flower designs are from the altar skirt for St. John Berchmans's Church at Galena, Alaska.

Yup'ik Mask of Jesus

The mask was created by Job Nevak of Toksook Bay, AK. This is a common hoop style mask with two concentric hoops representing the portal between heaven and earth. Jesus' face is in the center with his appendages located outside the hoops representing Jesus being both in the spirit world and the Yup'ik world. The Holy Spirit from above is symbolized by the white dove. Surrounding the outside of the mask are the desires of the Yup'ik people, with Chalice, Host, and Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Holy Cross.

Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Fairbanks

 At the base of the Diocesan Coat of Arms, the North Star is suspended on a blue field over the mountains of Alaska which appear in brown. In the upper section, between two red roses on a field of gold, is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, titular symbol of the Fairbanks Cathedral. This commemorates the consecration of Alaska to the Sacred Heart by the late Archbishop Seghers of Victoria, which then included the territory of Alaska, on Easter Sunday, 1874. The roses, representing St. Therese of Lisieux, Patroness of the Alaska Missions, recall her promise, "After my death I will let fall a shower of roses."