McGrath - Saint Michael Catholic Church
McGrath is located on the left bank of the Kuskokwim River. The indigenous people of the area are of Athapaskan origin though the village also has Caucasian inhabitants.
McGrath was first visited by the pioneer Jesuit Francis Menager in the 1940's. Fr. Menager subsequently bought a military surplus quonset hut and had it moved near "Aviation Field" and converted into a chapel. The "chapel" was later moved to another location.
Since its Catholic beginnings, McGrath has had few resident priests. One Visiting Priest is Fr. John Wood, S.J., who was in residence from 1959 to 1962 and from 1965 to 1966. Fr. Wood was one of several and unique pilot priests who traveled to road-less Parishes in a small airplane. While at McGrath, Fr. Wood built an attractive little log church in 1959 with the help of some of his relatives.
Men from the Society of Jesus have served the McGrath community since Catholic presence began there. Most priests visited the village from places like Bethel, Galena or Fairbanks. Fr. David Fitz-Patrick, a Diocesan priest, served the Saint Michael community of McGrath out of Fairbanks during the years 1981-1982. Fr. William Dibb, S.J., served as visiting priest from June 1995 until the summer of 2000.
Various Orders of Sisters also served in McGrath. Some of these were: Judy Tralnes, C.S.J.P., 1984-1987, Grace DiDomenicantonio, C.S.J.P., 1984-1989.