New pastor assignments/Fr. Christopher Gray

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

Father Christopher Gray

Several parishes and missions in the Diocese of Salt Lake City will receive new pastors or administrators on Aug. 1. Here is a brief introduction to those who will take the assignments.

Father Christopher Gray

Father Christopher Gray was born in Stockton, Calif. He attended The Madeleine Choir School and Judge Memorial Catholic High School, then went on to the University of Utah, where he studied mathematics and Spanish while working at the Intermountain Catholic as a staff writer and associate editor. He entered Mount Angel Seminary in 2007 and went on to study in Rome at the Pontifical North American College. He earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 2012 and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (STL) from the Pontifical Lateran University in 2014. In 2015 he returned to Rome to work on a Doctor of Sacred Theology (STD) degree, which he received in 2017. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 2013, at the Cathedral of the Madeleine by the Most Rev. John C. Wester. In the Diocese of Salt Lake City, he has served as parochial vicar of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and the cathedral. On Aug. 1 he will assume his duties as pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City and St Lawrence Mission in Heber.

What would you like your new parishioners to know about you?

I want people to know that I am about as open to change about as I am to staying the same. I want people to know that I take everything seriously, even if sometimes playfully, and that above all I want to be known as someone who is a good priest and a good listener.

What are you looking forward to most about your new assignment?

What I am most looking forward to: Sharing Christ’s love with the Catholics in Summit and Wasatch counties as their pastor, and especially sharing the excitement and joy of the Gospel as their friend.

As a priest, what has been your biggest challenge?

As a priest, my biggest challenge is boredom and frustration. I want to do so much but the right combination of time and resources doesn’t always present itself! In this I have learned to love Providence more, because I always need to conform my will more and more to the Divine will. Between my desires and God’s will, only God matters.

As a priest, what has been your most satisfying experience?

As a priest, my most satisfying experience is being able to share the truth, beauty and goodness of Christ through teaching. I love to prepare lectures and classes, and especially to enter into dialogue with people and to accompany people along the path toward knowing Christ better.