St. Paul Center celebrates five years
Friday, Jun. 06, 2014
Intermountain Catholic
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The St. Paul Center serves the Hurricane area. IC file photo
HURRICANE – In 2003 a group of about 20 Catholics in southern Utah rented a small space to be able to celebrate a Eucharistic service. Years later, with the help and support of the Catholic Extension Society and fundraising efforts from the community, that rented space transformed into approximately 3,100 square feet of what is known as Saint Paul Catholic Center in Hurricane. The center was dedicated on May 20, 2009; the St. Paul community will celebrate its five-year anniversary on June 22 after the 12:30 p.m. Mass.
“This celebration means a lot,” said Don Musich, who has been involved with the St. Paul Center since the beginning, remembering the times when Catholics in the area had to drive the 20 miles or more to and from St. George for Mass every Sunday.
“Seven or eight years ago the deacons used to travel here to celebrate [a Eucharist service] in the rented space. Then there was some fundraisers, one to renovate the parish in St. George and the other for this center,” said Musich, who is also in charge of the St. Paul bulletin.
As a result of the fundraising – which included the establishment and operation of a thrift store – in 2009 a former office building in Hurricane was transformed into a gathering space, with the thrift store occupying a corner of the building.
“I remember when the bishop came down and dedicated the building,” Musich said. “The building has seating for about 120 people, but we could squish a little more. I think the first service had a little over 140 people.”
Nowadays, on a regular Sunday, 60 to 80 people attend Mass, including area residents and visitors to the local recreational areas.
“We don’t have a priest here all the time, but Father Martin and Father Tai come once a month and sometimes Deacon Mark [Bourget] comes, too,” said Musich, adding that these regular Masses are a great improvement because when the center began they only had two monthly Sunday Celebrations in Absence of a Priest.
Father Martin Picos is the pastor of St. George Parish in St. George, and Father Tai Nguyen is the associate pastor.
Over the years, the center has developed several ministries, including the Knights of Columbus, CCD and RCIA.
“We also have a Holy Hour every Monday at 7 p.m. with Deacon [Rogaciano] Tellez, who is here every Monday whether there is anybody or not; he is one of the most dedicated men I have ever known,” said Musich.
In addition, the parish has a Bible study that meets on Mondays from September to June.
“We also have quite a large Hispanic culture in Hurricane. There are some families that come here on regular basis; others just come on the holidays,” said Musich.
This year, the thrift store, now known as St. Paul’s Treasures Thrift Shoppe, will celebrate its seventh anniversary with a big sale on June 7.
“The thrift store was been active for seven years; it helps recycle material and it helps the needy families and it gives the parishioners a place to volunteer and also to socialize,” said Musich, who wanted to extend to the community the invitation to the anniversary celebrations. “Everyone is invited to participate in both anniversaries.”
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