January 2007 - Father Scott Garrett

Father Scott Garrett has especially large shoes to fill. Appointed pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in Dillingham, Alaska, in August 2005, he replaced the late Father Jim Kelley, who had served the Aleutian chain for 11 years and was killed Easter Sunday 2002 while piloting his small plane to a remote village for Mass.

"The furthest west I have flown is Togiak," Father Scott said. "To get there, I have to fly over and through a large mountain range -- the same mountains where Father Kelley crashed. On my first attempt to fly there, I turned around and came back. I'd started out with a clear blue sky and within 20 minutes, the mountains clouded over."

A native of Bend, Oregon, Father Garrett, 49, fell in love with Alaska after following his brother there in 1983. He rekindled his dormant faith while a student at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks and was confirmed in 1987.

After earning a master's degree in business administration from the University of Oregon, he returned to Alaska and worked for several airlines.

But a still, small voice within began to urge him to pursue the priesthood, and, following studies at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon, he was ordained for the Archdiocese of Anchorage in 2003.

"It was important to Father Kelley to reach as many Catholics as possible as often as possible," Father Scott said. "My philosophy is to meet all the Catholics eventually, and spend quality time with the ones I do meet. I want to reach out to Catholics who don't have access to a priest and bring them closer to God."

Like several of the archdiocesan supply priests, Father Garrett receives a Catholic Extension subsidy to bring Mass and the sacraments to Catholics in villages around Bristol Bay.

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Read Father Scott's first-hand account of his life as a mission priest in Alaska in the January issue of EXTENSION Magazine -- sign up NOW to receive 12 FREE issues!