Pope names Dominican priest serving in Anchorage, Alaska, as new bishop of Fairbanks

WASHINGTON (OSV News) -- Pope Francis has named Dominican Father Steven Maekawa, current pastor of Holy Family Old Cathedral in Anchorage, Alaska, as the new bishop of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Bishop-designate Maekawa, 55, has served as pastor of the Anchorage parish since 2016. A native of Washington state, the bishop-designate was ordained to the priesthood May 29, 1998, in the Dominicans' Western province, the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, which is based in Oakland, California.

The appointment was publicized in Washington July 11, 2023, by Cardinal-designate Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Bishop-designate Maekawa's predecessor in Fairbanks, Bishop Chad W. Zielinski, was appointed to head the Diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota, in July 2022.

Born Nov. 22, 1967, the future bishop received a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Washington in 1990, and a master of divinity degree in 1998 from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California. He took his first profession of vows for the Order of Preachers Sept. 14, 1991, in the Dominicans' Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. His May 29, 1998, ordination took place at St. Augustine Church in Oakland. 

Then-Father Maekawa's pastoral assignments after ordination include: parochial vicar at St. Dominic Church in San Francisco, 1998-2002; director of the Newman Center at the University of Washington in Seattle, 2002-2005; prior at St. Dominic Priory (Novitiate) in San Francisco, 2005-2007 and 2012-2016; and director of vocations for the Dominicans' Western province, 2007-2015. 

His ministries for the province and its commissions include: member of the Provincial Vocations Commission, 1999-2003; member of the Provincial Council, 2003-2007 and 2015-present; member of the Sexual Misconduct Advisory Group, 2003-2007; member of the Provincial Formation Council, 2005-2016; and chair of the Provincial Vocations Commission, 2007-2015.

Bishop-designate Maekawa also served as chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, including with the 14th Marine Regiment, 2001-2002, and at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest, 2002-2005. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army serving in Afghanistan, 2004; the 23rd Marine Regiment, 2005-2006; and the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2007. He was awarded a special medal for active duty 2009-2011.

Bishop-designate Maekawa speaks English and Spanish.

The Diocese of Fairbanks covers over 409,000 square miles of Alaska's northern region. Out of a total population of 164,025, there are 11,876 Catholics.