Pastor Appointments Take Effect Aug. 1 - Fr. Francisco Pires

Friday, Jul. 17, 2020

On Aug. 1, six priests in the Diocese of Salt Lake City will assume their duties as either pastor or administrator of a parish to which they have been newly assigned. Following is a brief profile of one these priests - Fr. Francisco Pires.

Fr. Francisco Pires was born in Ituporanga, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. He attended minor seminary and did his philosophical studies in Tubarão, then went on to  Florianopolis to study  theology for four years at the Instituto Teologico de Santa Catarina. He was ordained a priest on Dec. 8, 1984 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy in Tubarão, Brazil by the Most Rev. Osório Bebber, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop of Tubarão. Following ordination, he served as an educator in the seminary for two years. After that, he was appointed as associate pastor in two different parishes in his native diocese in Brazil before coming to the United States in 1991. He spent four years serving as an associate pastor at a parish in the Phoenix area, then moved to Utah in 1995. His first assignment in Utah was as parochial vicar of St. Henry Parish in Brigham City and Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish in Logan simultaneously for four years. This was followed by a two-year appointment as pastor of Saint Elizabeth Parish in Richfield, then two years as associate pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem. Beginning in March 2003 he served at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Midvale, as pastor. In 2006 he became the founding pastor of St. Andrew Parish and School in Riverton. He also served as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Hyde Park from 2011 to 2016, and Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, where he has been since 2016. 

In addition, he served as the Dean of the Salt Lake Deanery from 2018-2019.

He was incardinated into the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 2007. He speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish and Italian.

On Aug. 1 he will begin serving as pastor of St. Henry Parish.

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

I am always willing to learn from those whom I serve, to continue the work that the preceding pastor has started, and to be mindful to the needs and aspirations of the community.

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

I am looking forward to taking advantage of the small gatherings these days to get to know each member of the community. I also would like to be a source of strength during this pandemic time.

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

Just being with the community and accompanying the families, celebrating the sacraments with them, supporting them in their time of happiness but also when things do not go so well. Helping each member of the community to feel that they belong, no matter where they are coming from.