Chevak - Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Chevak, a Cup'ik community, is located on the right bank of the Ninglikfak River, 17 miles east of Hooper Bay in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
The Chevak Catholic Community has its roots in the missions of Kashunuk and "Old Chevak." The latter was previously located on the north bank of the Keoklevik River, 9 miles east of Hooper Bay. Fr. John Fox, S.J., established the mission of Saint John the Baptist in Old Chevak in 1935. Eventually the buildings of the old Kashunuk mission were torn down in 1937 and the lumber was used to build a new church and living quarters. This village of Old Chevak was also prone to many spring floods and resulting costs, so it was moved a few miles upriver in 1950. By then, the new pastor was Father Henry Hargreaves, S.J., who dedicated the church to the Sacred Heart. In 1983, a new church complex was built by Jesuit Brother Ignatius Jakes with the aid of local villagers.
Sacred Heart Parish at Chevak throughout its history, either had resident or visiting priests who came on a regular basis. These Jesuits are: Frs. John Wood, Bernard McMeel, Francis Nawn, William McIntyre, James Jacobson, Thomas Carlin, Richard Case and Thomas Provinsal. In the 1980's Diocesan priest, Fr. John Hinsvark, served the Chevak Catholic community. In the 1990's, the Jesuits again served the community--Frs. Tom Gallagher (1990-1991), Mark Hoelsken (1991-1996), and Greg Wood (1996-present).
Other servants of the Catholic people of Chevak in more recent times, especially during the latter 1900's, have been Sisters and or parish administrators as well as deacons.