Fr. Alois Magige's last day in diocese is March 28

Friday, Mar. 25, 2016

SANDY — Father Alois Magige, a member of the Apostolic Life Community of Priests in the Opus Spiritus Sancti, has been called home to Tanzania by his order after serving for three years in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

The Apostolic Life Community of Priests in the Opus Spiritus Sancti is a missionary society that was founded in 1980 in Tanzania by Father Bernhard Bendel, a German priest. Priests from the order serve in Africa, Germany, India, Italy and the United States.

Since coming to Utah in 2013, Fr. Alois has served as parochial vicar in the parishes of St. Anthony of Padua, Saints Peter and Paul, Saint Thomas More and, since February, Blessed Sacrament.

“It’s been very nice to have him,” said Msgr. Robert Servatius, pastor of Blessed Sacrament, adding  that the younger priest often celebrates the parish’s daily Mass and has been particularly helpful in the ministry to the sick. “It’s been a help to me, just the relief of having some of those Masses said and some of the other ministries done.”

“We’ll miss him. He’s been such an inspiration,” said Helen Nazzise, a Blessed Sacrament parishioner, during a farewell reception on March 13.

“It’s been very nice to have him here, and he’s given Monsignor [Servatius] some help, too,” agreed Greg LeClaire. “It’s too bad that he’s leaving.” 

Several St. Thomas More parishioners shared the same sentiments. 

Millie Gallagher recalls first encountering Fr. Alois one morning as he was coming down the drive from the rectory and she was entering the hall, “and he waved to me and I waved to him. Since then we’ve been very good friends,” said Gallagher, adding that she appreciates that the priest was always present at parish social activities.

“Utah has a good community of Catholic people,” Fr. Alois said. “They are a loving community. I have experienced love here, and in all of the parishes where I’ve been assigned to work  I’ve found this kindness.” 

One ministry he particularly enjoyed was counseling married couples who were struggling, he said. When they are able to resolve their problems, “it helps you to see something of God,” he said. “In fact, I enjoyed working with all of the people who came to me for spiritual help.”

He also liked working with the youth at St. Thomas More Parish. “They are wonderful kids,” he said. 

Living in the U.S. and meeting people from other cultures has helped him to grow spiritually, he said. He also sees that God “has been very generous in my life, not only as a priest but as a human being.” 

For example, a week after arriving in Salt Lake City, he was asked to minister at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in West Jordan. To get there, he had to drive on the freeway, but he was accustomed to driving on the left side of the road rather than the right. 

“I needed to be there, but I told God, ‘I need you to drive me,’” and he arrived safely, Fr. Alois said. “I have seen his hand in my life in every corner. He has been there to support, to care and to help.”

After returning to Tanzania, he plans to take a vacation, visit family, and then receive a new assignment from his religious community. 

“I don’t know what God has in store for me,” he said. “You trust in God and you move forward.”