St. Francis Xavier Parish, Otisville at 212 Center Street, Otisville, MI 48463-9706 US - St. Joseph Parish - Cordova, Alaska
| St. Joseph Parish - Cordova, Alaska |
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St. Joseph Parish__ Cordova, Alaska In the spring of 2002 our parish was introduced to a small community who reside in Cordova, Alaska. The catholic parish of St. Joseph, belonging to the Diocese of Anchorage, is made up of sixty to eighty families depending upon the season of the year. Presently they have a resident priest that serves them. We communicate regularly with these people and after two years eight of our parishioners were welcomed as visitors for a few days. This delightful visit gave us a perspective of how this northern state of the United States functions. Though the parish is very small, we do have similar needs, concerns as well as interests. Cordova is a village nestled in the heart of a spectacular wilderness that still looks to the ocean and forests for its livelihood. It has an inviting shopping center as well as a few coffee shops that attract tourists. The families do center their lives around the peak times for fishing sockeye, red and silver salmon. During fishing season the family ships are launched for up to two or three weeks at a time. The harbor buzzes with word from scouting vessels as to their success in pulling in these salmon. Three canneries package their catch as well as some of the salmon are flown out immediately to their contracted sites. In winter months the activity of the village wanes to more individual projects and of course skiing, quilting, cards and story telling. The brochure published by the Chamber of Commerce speaks of the history of the region of Cordova. The village has been a productive home and crossroads for Native peoples. By kayak, foot and dugout canoe, the Eyak, Tlingit, Alutiiq, and Aleut cultures formed the villages, traded, and built a rich life based on a deep knowledge of the land. Modern Cordova following the discovery of an immense copper deposit in the Wrangell Mountains, grew popular. Cordova became a terminal for the Copper River and Northwestern Railway. The mine closed in 1938 after 27 years of operation. Cordova then returned to the more enduring resources of salmon, shrimp, clams, crab, and herring. When our small group of parishioners visited in 2004, besides witnessing the send off of family ships for the big catch of salmon, we toured the Cordova Historical Museum, strolled through their newest Native American art gallery and museum which contains the preserved skeleton of an orca whale and finally toured a salmon cannery. At Copper River we walked the Million Dollar Bridge, and visited the Copper River Glacial Park, walked the mountainous rain forest and observed a moose grazing in a near by swampy area. What topped off this visit was the overwhelming hospitality of the parish we were visiting. They offered us hospitality and had a special reception for us, showering us with samples of their salmon catch. This visit gave us a feel for the people who have become our friends.