St. Thomas Aquinas Parish commissions statue of patron saint

Friday, Apr. 09, 2021

LOGAN — March 19 was a special day for St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Not only was it the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary, but this year it also was the occasion of a blessing for a project that will result in the construction of a statue of the parish’s patron saint.

“What better occasion to celebrate the construction of our patron saint than in the Year of St. Joseph?” asked Father Rogelio Felix-Rosas, the parish administrator, noting that the parish doesn’t have an image of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Because of this, Fr. Joshua Santos, parochial vicar, suggested taking up a collection to construct a statue of their patron saint. As soon as the fund was created, community members started contributing immediately, Fr. Felix-Rosas said. 

“Every Sunday people left envelopes with their contributions. … Even people from California contributed,” he said.

In less than two months, the parish was ready to place a commission with a California sculptor for the statue. This same artist created the small image of Our Lady of Lourdes that is installed in the grotto at St. Jerome Newman Center at Utah State University, where Fr. Santos serves as chaplain.

The St. Thomas Aquinas statue will be sculpted of marble. The artist has been sending pictures of the carving as it has progressed.  

“This is a unique piece made especially for us,” said Fr. Felix-Rosas, adding that, when complete, the statue will be installed at the parish entrance. 

The anticipated date for the blessing of the statue is sometime in June. 

The statue “is another expression of God’s love for us, despite the pandemic,” Fr. Felix-Rosas said. “Despite all the challenges, God is always with us. He never leaves us alone, and here in Logan, our community has never left [Fr. Santos and me] alone either.”