| Summary: | Efforts Of Priest Save Alaska Mission. EFFORTS OF PRIEST SAVE ALASKA MISSION A few years ago, bishop Crimont of Alaska discussed the closing of an Eskimo mission in Alaska for lack of funds. The Rev. Paul O'Connor, S. J., a Spokane boy and son of Maurice O'Connor, W2414 Sinto, and a former Gonzaga teacher, was in charge. The mission is at Akulurak, on the Yukon delta just below the arctic circle. It is called St. Mary's. Besides this, Father O'Connor cares for the Catholics of a number of villages scattered over a large area by means of a dog team. "Don't close my mission," he said, thinking of 100 Eskimo orphans, 13 dog drivers and an assisting Jesuit missionary there. He and his boys set to work to make the mission self-sustaining. As a result Father O'Connor reports 25,000 salmon stored for the winter, berries and other foods raised during the summer and fuel for the 12 stoves that burn continuously for eight months at the mission. The fuel was all driftwood, on the Yukon, secured with the mission launch. In addition, Father O'Connor made his twice yearly trip up and down the Yukon, baptizing Eskimo babies and bringing the sacraments to their elders.
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