The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-01-20
THE MISSIONS IN ALASKA.

Just a quarter of century has
elapsed, writes Jesuit Father, since
the Most Rev. Charles John Seghers,
former Archbishop OF Oregon City, laid
down his life on the bank of the
Yukon, Alaska, for the glorious cause
of religion. The good God was salts
fed with the Archbishop's earnest de-
sire to spread the Kingdom of Christ
in Alaska. He did not stay the
murderous hand that fired the fatal
ball, but fastened to grant a speedy
reward to his faithful servant, to take
him up to the mansions of bliss
eternal. And now, no doubt, the many
friends of Archbishop Seghers will be
glad to hear now and then what be-
came of the Catholic mission in Alas
ka, that part of the vineyard of the
Lord so dear to their former Arch
bishop. AS children of the Catholic
Church, we know that the blood of the
martyrs, of those who laid down their
lives for the faith of Christ, became as
a rule, the seed from which sprang
new Christian communities. Arch
bishop Seghers died a martyr of
charity; he willingly offered his life
for the good of his neighbor, for the
salvation of souls, and behold, from
the field of Alaska have indeed sprung
up numerous souls, faithful children
of our holy mother, the Church.
Alaska has today three 1ourishing
missions and schools on the banks of
the Yukon; one at Holy Cross, another
at Nielato, and third at Kokrine.
Besides one, so very dear to good
Father A. Robaut, on the bank of the
Kuskokwim river. Father Robaut had
the honor to accompany the Arch
bishop in 1886 as far as Stewart
river, and for these twenty-five years
has done hard work among his be-
speaks with the accent and fuency of
native. There are, further, four
| permanent missions along the coast
of the Behring Sea; one on the bank
of the Akulurak, one on the Island of
st. Michael, a third at Nome, and the
fourth at Igloo, where the courageous
! Father Joseph Bernard is just now
busy in the erection and furnishing of
his new church for his Indian congre-
cation. The Akulurak mission, now
called st. Mary's Mission, was one of
the first established by the mission
aries. At present it's apostolic work is
cared for by the two Jesuit Fathers,
A. Keyes and ]. M Trica, and the
Ursuline Sisters.
The generous souls who have been
and are benefactors of the Alaska
Catholic. missions will surely rejoice
to hear that this mission-school es-
pecially is nearing success. Father
Treca writes: "Our mission seems to
begin to bear fruit after many trials.
We have to thank God for the good
our schools begins to do around; it is
the foundation of the true civilization
of the Indians. We hope nextNfall to
be able to open also the boys depart
ment. Let us pray that Divine Proyi-
dence may send us the men and the
means necessary" And Father Keyes
writing on May s from the same St.
Mary's Mission, says: I'VE have only
to bless God, and that very heartily,
too, for the spreading of the Kingdom
of God in this lower portion of the
Yukon delta. Our boarding school is
taxed to its utmost capacity We
have forty pupils and there is no room
for more. Dear Father Treca is as
happy as ever, or rather he says that
in the twenty years past he never felt
so encouraged in his work as this
year" No doubt, in heaven above dear
Archbishop Seghers shares the mis-
sionaries' joy, and will have special
blessing for st. Mary's School, both
for children and teachers.