Donated cross adorns St. Joseph the Worker chapel
Friday, Mar. 17, 2017
IC photo/Laura Vallejo
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Father Javier Virgen, pastor of Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, blessed the steel cross that was donated by an anonymous parishioner. Deacon Sunday Espinoza holds the aspersorium. The cross frames the entrance to Our Lady's Chapel.
By Laura Vallejo
Intermountain Catholic
WEST JORDAN — Saint Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in West Jordan was originally built in 1965 by some of the miners who moved down from Brigham Canyon when towns such as Dinkeyville, Lark and Highland Boy were demolished as the mine expanded.
The history of the parish narrates that it was with their own hands that the miners and families built the original church building.
For more than 45 years the church stood, but its structure started to show its age, so a new church was dedicated in 2011 on the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
For more than 50 years the commitment of St. Joseph parishioners has been tireless, selfless and always showing their love and commitment for the parish and for the small chapel that stands next to it.
Bearing witness to this, on March 12, Father Javier Virgen, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker, blessed a new cross that has been installed at the entrance of parish’s Our Lady’s Chapel.
The steel cross was made and donated by a parishioner who preferred to remain anonymous.
“He and his family have a tremendous love for our parish,” said Fr. Virgen, adding that the cross reflects the donor’s generosity and “his great faith and commitments. It’s because he values his faith so much that he manifests it through his love for the parish.”
The cross stands above the chapel’s entrance as “a symbol of the Christianity to all the world,” Fr. Virgen said.
During his comments, Fr. Virgen reflected on the cross’ symbolism, saying that “Christ died for us, but he did it as a symbol of his infinite love, sharing his mercy and his peace. … It’s in the cross that we see God’s complete wisdom to understand the mystery of [Christ’s] surrender.”
During the blessing of the cross, which occurred after the regular Sunday morning Mass, parishioners gathered outside of the chapel.
“This is our family community,” said Barbara Whinner, adding that she wanted to thank the anonymous donor for his generosity.
“It’s through people like him that this parish is a great place to belong to. … We are simply a big extended family,” she said.
“This cross has been erected in faith. We are so grateful to him and his family,” added Fr. Virgen.
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