Salt Lake Diocese grows with two new missions
HURRICANE/BEAVER — "We are so excited to be here to celebrate Eucharist in our new Catholic Center," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester as he began to celebrate Mass in the Saint Paul Catholic Center in Hurricane May 17. "It just seems like yesterday I was visiting your thrift store and it was doing very well," said Bishop Wester. "You were saving for a new church one day. I am so pleased that we have this opportunity to celebrate this important moment in our history. I want to also thank and welcome so many of you who are here today. I also want to thank Vicar General Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, who has worked so very hard, and Michael Lee, pastoral operations director, who has also worked so very hard. They have come down here several times to work on the various activities." Later that afternoon Bishop Wester, dedicated Our Lady of the Light, the new mission in Beaver. "One of the priorities in the recent years has been to give a significant push to the development of the Catholic faith in the missions in Utah," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "As parishes have developed in the Wasatch Front area, in Utah County, and have expanded in Washington County, in terms of property acquisitions, it is important that we also acquire property in mission areas in parts of central and southern Utah. "In a number of cases, the people in these missions have met in private homes or public facilities," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "But in time, it is important for us to get an adequate facility. The people in missions always say they would love a place that has a Catholic name and a cross on top. Even though they are small, they are a significant Catholic presence. "For many years Mass was celebrated in various homes in Beaver by priests from Christ the King Parish in Cedar City," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "For some time we have been searching, and we found a rather large home in Beaver, which the Bishop dedicated on Sunday, Our Lady of the Light. It was apparent from the crowd that there is definitely growth of the Catholic community in this area. Msgr. Fitzgerald said Our Lady of the Light will give the people an opportunity to prepare children and others for Baptism, their First Holy Communion, and the Sacrament of Confirmation. Amy Storey said they now have a place for weddings and funerals. "Jesse Fay, was 7 years old when he received his First Communion in his home by Father Wayne Epperley," said his mother, Cary Fay. "We would attend Mass in Milford, which was quite a drive especially in the winter. Father would come to our home to give him his lessons to prepare him for his First Communion. This is great having this chapel here." "Holy Cross Sister Yvonne Hatt has been evangelizing this area for some time," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "She is from Christ the King Parish in Cedar City, along with Father Michael Winterer, pastor of Christ the King, and for the past three years with Father Oscar Martin Picos." Msgr. Fitzgerald said Beaver is a very strong LDS community and so our presence there indicates the growth of Catholics in that area, and the growth of the Hispanic community in Utah. The people were very excited with their new facility even though it is small. In time, as it develops in Beaver, there is property available and expansion to a larger facility can take place. "Washington County is experiencing a rapid influx of Hispanic people as well as retired people," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "The St. George Parish is extremely crowded, so after surveys and studies, it was determined Hurricane would be the site for a new mission. The parish already covers Hurricane and Zion National Park. "In time, certainly there will be more parishes in Washington County," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "The people in St. George have been very assertive in raising money for the expansion of their church, especially through their thrift store. "In Hurricane, we searched for some time for a facility that could be used for a mission, and we were blessed a year a go to find the present building which was an office of architects, and before that a medical center," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "We were able to purchase that building, and renovate it. We made the front area for their thrift store. The funding for both Hurricane and Beaver has come from the Catholics of Utah through the Diocesan Development Drive and the assistance of the Catholic Church Extension Society in Chicago, and the very generous fund raising of the people in Hurricane themselves. "At the first Mass, which was the dedication Mass, it was apparent the facility was very crowded which indicates the number of Catholics in that area. It is hoped in the future there will be weekly services at the facility," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "Bishop Wester selected Saint Paul as the patron for the mission to recognize the year of Saint Paul that is coming to a conclusion. Msgr. Fitzgerald said over five years ago, Catholics in Hurricane began gathering and rented American Legion Hall where they had a monthly Mass, and where on occasion a deacon would come for a Communion Service. The thrift store the people established several years ago in rented space, has done very well. It has both bonded the people in terms of a common project, as well as raised funds for the facility. The people look forward to having the thrift store at the Saint Paul Center because they will no longer have to pay rent. There is plenty of property there for storage. In Hurricane there is also property that would make expansion possible in the future. "This is awesome," said Toni Foran, Hurricane pastoral administrator. "I have lived here for 25 years and I never would have envisioned a Catholic Church or center in Hurricane. The whole community has made this possible. We had many volunteers, together with Msgr. Fitzgerlad and Michael Lee, it has become a reality."
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