Mountain Village - Saint Lawrence Catholic Church
Mountain Village lies at the foot of the first mountain one meets going up the Yukon River from the coast. It is located on the north bank of the Yukon River 87 miles upstream from its mouth. Early in its history, Mountain village was considered a fish camp but quickly became a village after a general store was opened in 1908. During the 1950's, the indigenous people of the Black River drainage relocated to Mountain Village. After 1976 it became the regional educational center for the Lower Yukon School District. Mountain Village inhabitants are of Central Yup'ik Eskimo origin.
In 1915, baptisms were performed by one of the first missionaries to visit Mountain Village, Fr. Anthony Keyes, S.J. A few years later in 1921, Fr. Keyes opened a mission and built a church where he celebrated Mass on October 7. Several Jesuits visited the village in succession. One of these was Fr. John Fox, S.J., (1946-1956). Fr. Fox is noted because he is the one to have introduced electric power to the village, and established yearly three-day retreats inviting the villagers of Pilot Station. These retreats appeared to have two-fold purpose: one was spiritual and the other social. By design, Fr. Fox wanted to "enable young men and women to find suitable spouses from outside their villages." No word is mentioned of the results of the latter.
The church at Mountain Village was first dedicated to Saint Barbara but was later rededicated to Saint Lawrence. Fr. Keyes' old church building was removed and was replaced during Fr. James Poole's, S.J., tenure (1956-1959). The present church building is of more recent construction. It was built in the late 1980's or early 1990's.
The Catholic community of Mountain Village has been faithfully served by the Society of Jesus for many years. The most current Jesuit priests who served are: Frs. Eugene Delmore (1989-1991) and again (1995-1997), James Sebesta (1991-1994), Robert Paskey (1994-1995), and René Astruc (1998-present).