Newtok - Holy Family Catholic Church
This Central Yup'ik Eskimo village is located on the Kealavik River, north of Nelson Island, in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. At one time, it was referred to as "Old Kealavik" because people had moved from the so named village to Newtok in the 1940's.
Catholicism came to Old Kealavik, now Newtok due to efforts of Fr. Joseph Treca, S.J., who arrived in the area at the turn of the 20th century. There was a church at Old Kealavik which Fr. Henry Hargreaves, S.J., moved to Newtok in 1952. That building burned to the ground in 1974. A new church was built and dedicated to the Holy Family by Bishop Robert Whelan, S.J., on July 26, 1978.
Newtok has been served both by visiting and resident priests. Some of the more recent clergymen to serve at Newtok are: Fr. John Wood, S.J., 1952-1959, Fr. Bernard McMeel, S.J., 1959-1964, Fr. Francis Fallert, S.J., 1966-1975, 1987-1989, Fr. Thomas Provinsal, S.J. 1991, Fr. Eugene Delmore, S.J., 1992-1994, Fr. Paul Cochran, S.J., 1994-1997, and Fr. Mark Hoelsken, S.J., 1997-present.