Fr. Stan Herba honored on his Golden Jubilee as priest

Friday, May. 23, 2014

PARK CITY — Father Stanislaw Herba celebrated a Mass May 17 for his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination at Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City, where he was honored with a plaque from the Park City Interfaith Council, and was congratulated by fellow priests, parishioners and friends at a reception that followed. 

“When we heard of his 50th anniversary, we wanted to thank Fr. Stan for his service to this community,” said Father Darin Lovelace, pastor of St. John’s Anglican Church in Park City, and a member of the Park City Interfaith Council. “We would like to extend our admiration for your 50 years of tireless devotion to serving God and serving people, including making a real difference in the Park City community and throughout the State of Utah.”

The people of the parish also praised their priest for his 50 years and for the graces he has bestowed on them. The parish council presented Fr. Herba with a round-trip ticket to Poland.

“Fr. Herba is a great spiritual leader who loves his flock,” said Esther Mower, parish council president. 

Dave Coelho, a parish council member, agreed, adding that Fr. Herba is also a good listener, and a devoted priest, and “Park City is lucky to have him.”

Several St. Mary parishioners commented on Fr. Herba’s wit and sense of humor and his ability to speak eight languages. “We are so blessed to have such a spiritual man as our leader,” said Kathy Micklar, who brought her friend Diana Bahde. 

“I like Fr.  Stan so well I had to come to this celebration,” said Bahde, who is Protestant. “I come here all the time.”

Deacon Ricardo Arias, director of Vocations for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, worked with Fr. Herba in the different Hispanic ministries at Saints Peter and Paul Parish when he was assigned there, he said. “That was a great time for the community, because [Fr. Herba] is a very kind priest, and is dedicated to helping the people in any way he can. His homilies are profound and well prepared and were very spiritual.” 

“He has the charism to show us how to love God and how to devote our life to him,” added Esperanza Arias. 

Julia Ando and Virginia Salazar traveled from Saint Vincent de Paul Parish to attend Fr. Herba’s anniversary Mass because he “is very religious and friendly and I like that because with my Japanese accent and his Polish accent it’s difficult to understand each other,” said Ando.

The years have passed quickly, Fr. Herba said; as he looks back he is “grateful to God for the gift of the vocation to priesthood.” 

In his homily he reflected on his 50 years. “There have been experiences of spiritual and emotional highs and lows,” he said. “Trusting in God has played an important part in my life, particularly growing up in communist Poland when we weren’t allowed to travel outside of its borders.” 

Fr. Herba was ordained May 17, 1964, in the order of the Society of Christ in Poland. After his application to leave his native country was granted, he served in Brazil, Germany, France and Italy. 

One of the most significant aspects of his ministry has been serving different cultures, he said. “In Brazil, there were many nationalities, yet they all spoke Portuguese and it was in the Brazilian culture. I have a desire to become familiar with the different cultures.” 

Fr. Herba came to the United States in 1976, and “when I was greeted in New York by a Polish girl, it was amazing,” he said. “It was so uplifting; I felt at peace.”

Fr. Herba served in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Oregon before coming to the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 1989, where he has served at many parishes throughout the diocese. He has served as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Park City since 2010. 

Throughout his life and his 50 years as a priest, half of them in Utah, trusting in the Lord has been the most important part of his life, he said. “When we trust, we can do all things through God who gives us strength,” Fr. Herba said.