Immaculate Conception Parish changes leadership

Friday, Dec. 12, 2014

COPPERTON — After two years as parish administrator of Immaculate Conception, Jim Wohlitz has stepped down, having “served this community admirably, very graciously, very humbly; giving of his time and his talent and treasure to build up the people of God here in Copperton,” said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, during a Mass Dec. 7.

In addition to serving as parish administrator, Wohlitz is a past president of the parish council and is as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, among other ministries; he was the lector at the Dec. 7 Mass.

At the Mass, Bishop Wester presented Wohlitz with a Madeleine Medal of Appreciation for Faithful Service, an award created in 2012 to honor those who have given exemplary service in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

“You’ve been somebody that we can depend on in the diocese,” Bishop Wester told Wohlitz as he presented the medal.

Immaculate Conception Parish has only two paid staff people: the bookkeeper and a landscape maintenance person; all other positions are held by volunteers, whose jobs were made easier by Wohlitz’s conscientious attention to detail “so the rest of us could concentrate more on our ministries,” said Christy Kelley, the parish’s director of religious education. “He kind of steps back and he allows the rest of us to do our thing in our ministries without taking too much control so that the rest of us could flourish and we could grow. He gave us that space.”

Wohlitz and his wife, Barb, who is the parish’s choir director, have been “really wonderful, faithful people that you knew you could trust,” Kelley added.

The Wohlitzs moved to Copperton in 1998 when Jim Wohlitz was transferred there for work. Immaculate Conception Parish “is like a family,” he said. “It’s a small group that everybody knows everybody, and if you’re not here for Mass for a week or two, we call to find out if you’re okay, if you need anything.”

Wohlitz volunteered to serve as parish administrator because “it’s part of being part of the community,” he said. His job included paying bills and overseeing the church’s property, he also handled chores such as responding to requests for copies of baptismal certificates; Immaculate Heart Parish maintains the records of Holy Rosary Parish, which was built in 1890 and closed in 1958. 

His memories of the parish are of the people, he said; he particularly appreciated “the backing and the support of people on a major project like replacing the carpeting in the church.” 

Health problems over the past year contributed to his decision to step down from his post, but he is thankful for his fellow parishioners “for allowing me to be a part of the family,” he said.

Although Wohlitz will no longer be the administrator, he is “still doing a lot for the parish; he is still a leader,” said Greg Schindler, the parish council president, who recalls being welcomed by Wohlitz 12 years ago when his family came to Immaculate Conception Parish for the first time. At Wohlitz’s urging, Schindler became involved with the parish and, with him, his family, he said.

Wohlitz “has been a mentor to me,” Schindler said. “I’m so glad he’s here.” 

The parish administrator position now will be held by Father Anastasius Iwuoha, who has been providing sacramental ministry there for the past two years. Ron Pinarelli, a parishioner, will be the associate administrator.

During the Dec. 7 celebration, Fr. Iwuoha presented Wohlitz with a gift on behalf of the parish and thanked him for his service. “Jim has given a lot in value and service and dedication,” he said.