A Hidden Gem: St. John Neumann - Cooper Landing, Alaska

Many folks on the Kenai, let alone in Alaska, probably don't know about a hidden gem of a parish: St. John Neumann in Cooper Landing. To be precise, it is actually a Mission, but it has weekly Mass on Sunday at 12:30pm.

The property is about a half-mile down Snug Harbor Road, just before/over the bridge at Kenai Lake. You drive a bit up a driveway and the grounds sit at the bottom of the hillside; it is an impressive campus. The modest log church isn't anything super impressive, except that it is simplistic without being purposely vacant of sacred aesthetic. It is minimal in decoration and design, but it is culturally cohesive. It is everything that an Alaskan Mission Church should be, and in fact feels more Catholic than most of the other parishes on the peninsula. It fits into its setting and is authentic. Its design fits its purpose, there is continuity in the building and its design.

There are two out buildings, a residence type building, and  a shed that seems to house maintenance items for the Cross-walk, Stations of the Cross, and Cemetery. There is also a third structure, and really the focal point of the campus aside from the Church. It is a Marian shrine, that has beautiful stained glass. It is also handicapped accessible. It sits "inside" the Stations of the Cross walk.

The Stations of the Cross are beautiful and are a nice walk around the grounds. There is even a smaller version for wheel-chairs that points to the main crosses. I assume that these crosses are "properly erected" and so praying in-front of them offers and indulgence.

It is obvious that a lot of care and concern were taken when designing the various areas of this parish, and I am shocked that I had never heard about it, or been there before.

Cross VIII on the Handicap Stations

Handicap Stations Platform

The Stations of the Cross lead all through the grounds, surrounding the Marian Shrine. There is even a path that leads up into the woods, and up the hill to a "Cross" that sits atop the hillside behind the Church. I can't say enough how impressed I was with the campus. It exudes beauty and embraces the rustic and rural atmosphere of Alaska. It utilize natural beauty, as well as seamlessly incorporating modern ingenuity. 

Just as we were leaving, I noticed one more path that lead down towards a creek bed. I saw a statue placed back in the woods. It turned out to be another Marian shrine, this time of Our Lady of Grace. 

The Path to Mary

Creekside Shrine

I suggest you visiting the parish sometime on your drive through Cooper Landing. It is worth a 15 minute stop at the very least. Some weekend I plan on taking the family and some friends out camping that way and then attending Mass on Sunday. I just wish more of the churches on the Peninsula would take some design cues from this parish. It really is a hidden gem.

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