Yukon's historic places
Dateline: February 8, 2026.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church
Located at Alaska Highway Mile 1016, Haines Junction, Yukon.
Formally Recognized: Not recognized.
The church and rectory was built by Father Eusebe Morisset, of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), and F. Van Rooy, OMI, to answer the need of the growing population when the Federal Department of Agriculture's experimental farm and asphalt plant were starting up (the Yukon Government says it was Father Morisset and Father Jean Paul Tanguay). Before this, Haines Junction parish had been a mission from Burwash Landing. In 1943, Father Morisset, OMI, travelled north to serve as a missionary and auxiliary chaplain with the American Army. They converted an American army Quonset hut into this unique and beautiful church. Much of the actual work was done by an all-volunteer crew led by Wally Wondga, foreman of the HME (Highway Maintenance Establishment) camp at Haines Junction, with their wives keeping them going with sandwiches and coffee, and some of their children helping where they could.
Quonset Huts were constructed in 1942 for the United States Navy at Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island and became a common sight at military camps during World War II. The steel arch-rib frame of the structure is covered with corrugated metal sheets. The former Quonset Hut was cut in half straight down the length. Between these halves were added an insert of windows that gave light and height to the building. Father Morriset originally wanted to add windows in the roof for light. Father Tanguay, concerned with snow load, suggested a clerestory arrangement, with the windows placed vertically above the roof line. Old bridge timbers were used for the beam that runs the length of the building. The steeple features a statue of the Madonna, one of four statues made for rural Yukon parishes. Bishop Jean Courdet, OMI had them cast in the 1950s in Belgium.
Behind the church was added a small living quarters consisting of 3 small rooms. The building is heated with oil heat. In 1993, the oil furnace needed replacing. A loan was received from the Diocese. Over the following years this loan was repaid by donations from the parishioners and by a group of 4 ladies raising funds by cleaning a section of the local highway. The present pews came from 2 sources. The heavy brown solid oak ones were donated to Fr. Marcel Vogel from the parish in Haines, Alaska and the small light coloured pews came from the closed mining town of Elsa. The original bell was stolen in the 1960s. The present bell came from St. Henri's Mission, Elsa. It is an old steam locomotive bell that was donated by the engineer that drove the engine across Canada on its last trip.
The original rectory was built with lumber and electrical supplies from the old road camps (the Yukon Government says it was built using a barracks building from a pipeline camp). It was a very cold and inadequate building by the time it was replaced. The new rectory, constructed in 1993, was placed on the old full basement foundation. The house is roomy and airy. In the basement is a small chapel that could be used for daily Mass. It has ample room for meeting space which is presently being used by the Rotary Club in town. The new rectory was constructed by a local contractor, Big Bud Construction. Funds were made available by the diocese. In 1995, a garage was added so that father's truck could be cared for and stored away during the extreme cold periods. It was in this town while working for the parks department that diocesan priest Fr. Dave Daws found his call to the priesthood. Because there was no priest available to be in residence, Dave rented the rectory.When Bishop O'Connor came to say Mass, Dave was always very inviting and assisting. Bishop O'Connor gave him the challenge to think and pray to see what is in store for him for the future. God does call.
After Fr. Marcel Vogel left in the fall of 1993, Sr. Pat Moran, CSJ, took his place. She made the rectory a very homey place for all to come after Sunday liturgy and at any other time. Her stay for one year was a great blessing to the church and the people of the town. She was followed by Fr. P. Rigaud, OMI.
Other priests who have served here were: Frs. E. Morisset, OMI, F. Van Rooy, OMI, R. Boeker, OMI, I. McCormack, OMI (?), E. Engel, H. Huybers, OMI, M. Cropley, OMI, J. McAllister, OMI, F. Parent, M. Vogel, D. Daws, R. Kelly, OMI, J. Plaine, OMI.
The gardens are always well flowered and the grass well cared for and trimmed. The parishioners of Haines Junction are very proud of their unique church.
History largely based on the one by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Whitehorse.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church in the 1950s. Photo on the church wall.
Print of a painting of the church by Haines Junction artist Libby Dulac (1947-2023), on the church wall.
This is a small section of a much larger painting.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on September 11, 1999. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on September 11, 1999. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on September 11, 1999. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
From October 16 until December 24, 2005, the church was featured in a 5,000-square-foot exhibit
at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art called "Quonset: Metal Living for a Modern Age."
This image is from the Anchorage Daily News of October 16, 2005.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on May 21, 2011. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on December 14, 2012. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
An outbuilding and outhouse behind Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on December 14, 2012.
Photo by Murray Lundberg.
A visit to the church was listed as one of "The Top Five Things to Do in Yukon" in the
Toronto Star of February 6, 2016.
February 6, 2026: "The church was built in 1954 by Father E. Morriset, O.M.I., the first Catholic priest to preach the gospel in the area. Resources were scarce and Father Morriset ingeniously converted an old Quanset hut, which had been used by the American army during construction of the Alaska Highway, into the distinctively beautiful church you see. It has the distinction of being the most photographed church in the Yukon." The last sentence, "Come in and rest a while," encouraged me to try the door - I hadn't done that in a couple of decades, as the two previous times it had been locked.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on February 6, 2026. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on February 6, 2026. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on February 6, 2026. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on February 6, 2026. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on February 6, 2026. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on February 6, 2026. Photo by Murray Lundberg.
Looking back at the entrance of Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on February 6, 2026.
Photo by Murray Lundberg.
An outbuilding and picnic tables behind Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church on February 6, 2026.
Photo by Murray Lundberg.
