St Francis Xavier is one of 30 parishes and missions in the Archdiocese of Anchorage that does not have a priest in residence. Father LeRoy Clementich, C.S.C., who is located in Anchorage, is the canonical pastor for St Francis Xavier. Sister Marie Ann Brent is the resident Pastoral Administrator.

Membership:
Currently we have a membership of 110 families.

Timeline:

1939-59	Fr. David Melbourne served as pastor of Valdez and Cordova while living in Cordova.
1964	An earthquake struck Alaska, killing 32 Valdez residents and forcing the relocation of the city to its present site.
1959-66	Fr. Al Lunney served as pastor of Valdez and Cordova while living in Cordova.
1966-67	Fr. John Marx served as resident pastor in Valdez.
1967	First Mass said in the new Church in Valdez (December 10)
1967-71	Fr. Peter Houch served as resident pastor in Valdez during the transition from the old church to the new St. Francis Xavier.
June 1968	St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, at its present location, was dedicated and blessed by Archbishop Joseph T. Ryan.
1971-77	Fr. Eugene Burns S.J. served as resident pastor in Valdez.
1977-82	Fr. John Marx served as resident pastor for a second time in Valdez.
1983-87	Fr. Mike Shields served as resident pastor in Valdez and Glennallen
1987-88	Fr. Gerald Ryan served as resident pastor for Valdez
1988-92	Sister Carol Ann Aldrich served as the Pastoral Administrator
1993-now	Sister Marie Ann Brent is the current Pastoral Administrator
CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH
1903 -	First Mass celebrated in Valdez by Fr. Turnell S.J. at Mrs. Theresa Johnson's boarding house.
1906-08	Fr. Turnell S.J. appointed first Pastor of the church in Valdez.
1907	Catholic Church built, mostly by volunteer labor, in "Old Town".
1908	St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church was dedicated and blessed by Bishop Crimont S.J.
1908-10	Fr. Matthias Schmidt S.J. served as pastor of Valdez and Cordova (resided in Cordova).
1910-19	Fr. Vanderpol S.J. served as pastor of Valdez but at the same time served many of the South Central missions (Fr. Vanderpol also resided in Cordova).
1911	St. Francis Xavier Church was relocated in "Old Town" with a new rectory and a convent for the Ursuline Sisters.
1912-14	The Ursuline Sisters opened a Catholic school in 1912, which closed in 1914.
1919-33	Fr. William McMillian S.J. served as pastor of Valdez and Cordova (resided in Cordova).
1933-39	Fr. Ryan S.J., Fr. Dufor S.J., Fr. Kovach S.J., and Fr. Dunfey S.J., all served Valdez, Cordova, and other missions in the Copper Valley Basin.

Liturgical Ministries
Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Music, Choir, Cantors, Altar servers, Decoration of the church for special occasions, Cleaning and ironing of the altar linens, and Cleaning of the sacristy and the church.

Faith Formation Ministries
RCIA, Confirmation, Youth ministry, Religious education

Faith Sharing Ministries
Compassion and caring, Marriage preparation, Stewardship, Renew, Family ministry, Coffee and doughnuts, Nursery, Welcoming committee, Social activities.

Maintenance Ministry
Grounds maintenance, Building maintenance

Outreach Ministry
Community assistance

Pastoral Team
Pastoral Administrator:
Sr. Marie Ann Brent, S.H.F.

Lay Presiders:
Sue Brewi
Dolores Gard
Melodie Mackey
Trish Stowe
Dan Stowe

Parish Council Members:
Dottie McDevitt -------(member)
Patrick Duffy ----------(member)
Ernie Bandolin ---------(member)
Melodie Mackey ------(member)
Jeff Wilson ------------(member)
Mary Mehlberg -------(member)
Dave Cobb -----------(member)

Current Ministries:
Carla Oster - Religious Instruction
Melodie Mackey - Liturgy
Elizabeth Roberts - Finance
Ernie Bandolin/Dan Stowe - Maintenance
Dennis Murphy - Web Master

St. Francis Xavier, known as the Apostle of the Indies, was born at the castle of Xavier, near Pampeluna, Spain, on April 7,1506. He was born of noble parentage, and attended the University of Paris where he received a Masters degree in Humanities. It was while he was at the University that met Ignatius of Loyola and Peter Faber. These three along with four other students dedicated themselves to God's service and bound themselves by the vows of voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity. Their group was later to be known as the Society of Jesus - the Jesuits.

St Francis was ordained a priest in 1537. He spent time in Venice, Bologna, and Rome with untiring zeal performing works of charity despite ill health. On April 7, 1541, St.Francis boarded a sailing vessel bound for the East Indies. After many hardships and illnesses, he arrived, thirteen months later, on the west coast of India,. For ten years St.Francis labored incessantly to bring the Gospel to India, Malaya, and Japan. Instead of being encouraged and helped by his associates, his efforts were thwarted by their jealousy, covetousness, and carelessness. He longed to bring the faith to the Chinese, but the governor of Malaya opposed his intended voyage. Despite the efforts against him St.Francis was resolved to risk his life, and embarked for Sancian located 100 miles south of Hong Kong. Shortly after his arrival he was struck by a fever and died on Dec 2nd, 1552. At the time he was 46 years old. St. Francis was canonized by Pope Pius X in 1602, who proclaimed him patron of all foreign missions and is regarded by the church as one of the greatest missionaries since St. Paul. Many miracles were performed before and after the Saints death. His body, after four hundred years, lies uncorrupted in Goa.