Russian Mission - Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church
Russian Mission is a Central Yup'ik Eskimo village located on the right bank of the lower Yukon River. Ever since the 1850's, it has been the site of a Russian Orthodox mission station. Nevertheless, there have been Catholics in the area since before the turn of the 20th century and the church at Russian Mission has been visited by Jesuit priests for over one hundred years. Early Jesuit missionaries who were stationed at Akulurak, Pilot Station, Mountain Village or Bethel came to Our Lady of Guadalupe parish (an old log building on the hill) to minister to the spiritual needs of the people. Fr. John Hinsvark, a diocesan priest, came to Russian Mission from Bethel between 1974 and 1980.
When the old church was no longer usable, a building down on the flood plain was donated to be used for a church. That church with its history was destroyed by a flood in the late 1980's. A new church was completed in 1998 and dedicated on October 18 that same year. The Jesuits who have served since the flood are Frs. Eugene Delmore (1988-1991), James Sebesta (1991-1994), Edward Flint (1994-1996), Charles Peterson (1996-1997), and Paul Cochran (1997-2000). Sister Ann Hogan, S.S.J., visits there about once a month and Fr. Henry Hargreaves, S.J., sometimes goes there as a Sacramental Minister.