Cardinal Dolan, Bishop Brennan call for prayer amid war, antisemitism, widespread suffering
Laura Vallejo and Bryson Brown
Intermountain Catholic
BERYL JUNCTION — On Sept. 24, the small community of San Pablo Catholic Mission in Beryl Junction hosted members of the Catholic Extension Society staff and Mission Committee, along with Bishop Oscar A. Solis. Also in attendance were Maria Cruz Gray, director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry; Shannon Lee, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development; and members of the Emaus faith formation group.
For many years, Catholic Extension Society has provided funding for rural missions in Utah, including San Pablo and Our Lady of the Light Catholic Mission in Beaver. Members of the society often visit the rural areas across the United States that they help to fund; the Sept. 24 event in southern Utah was one of these visits.
Upon arriving at San Pablo, the guests were immediately greeted by the smell of corn and tamales coming through the open door of the mission. They also were welcomed by Father David Bittmenn, pastor of St. George Parish and its associate missions, which include San Pablo; Father Tristan Dillon, parochial vicar; and members of the community.
The building that houses the mission is equipped with a chapel that seats about three dozen people and includes a small area for the choir. There also are bathrooms, a kitchen and a couple of side rooms for classes and other events.
The events got underway with a Mass with Bishop Solis presiding; he was accompanied by a small choir. Much of the Mass and hymns were in Spanish, reflecting the demographics of the agricultural town.
“It’s a great honor to have you visiting us,” Bishop Solis told the members of the Catholic Extension Society. “As you people noticed, the Diocese of Salt Lake City is very small; it’s a cute one. The people and the community are small but the people that profess their faith have a big heart for God, and it’s a great honor to be of service to them and be partners in our mission.”
“The Diocese of Salt Lake City would have not survived without the help of the Catholic Extension Society,” the bishop continued, adding that it is with great pride that he sees “Catholics continuing to practice their faith. It’s a great challenge, but with the help of God and the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the faith is present.”
He also thanked the Catholic community “for your faith and for your participation here in San Pablo and in other places of this area.”
After the Mass, Joseph Boland, Catholic Extension Society’s chief mission officer, asked members of the community to share their stories. San Pablo Mission is one that the society helps every year, he said. “We wanted to come here to Beryl Junction because we have the idea that the simplest places are the most holy ones,” Boland said. “When we entered here, we felt the sacredness.”
One person who is originally from Villa Guerrero in Mexico, said she was shocked when she first came to San Pablo because of the differences in how the faith is celebrated. In her hometown Catholicism is the only religion, and “where I come from we respect all the Catholic faith traditions and events,” she said. “The entire family participates in all the celebrations, whether it is a rosary, Holy Week, Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration, and here I see that people get more involved in working instead of participating in their faith.”
Another community member who lives in Las Vegas said she and her husband are planning to move to the area. They looked for a home in St. George and Cedar City, which both have churches, “but then we encountered this mission, this was a great blessing; as a Catholic this was our priority,” she said. “There is a great need to find a Catholic church where we can get together and profess our faith.”
Hortencia Andrade, who has attended San Pablo Mission for 13 years, believes that members of the mission need to share their faith. “There is faith, but we have to get out there and evangelize; call people let them know that they can come,” she said. “There are kids out there that need to be evangelized; I know their faith; I know that God is here.”
As the visit drew to a close, the attendees gathered for fellowship and the lunch prepared by parishioners, then the Catholic Extension group traveled to Beaver to the small house that is Our Lady of the Light Mission, aptly painted blue with a Marian statue out front.
Members of the mission community in Beaver spoke very highly of Father Marco T. Lopez, pastor of Saint Bridget Parish in Milford and its associated missions. Fr. Lopez travels hundreds of miles each week to provide the sacraments to the faithful.
Local members of the Catholic Extension Mujer Valiente Initiative were recognized; each spoke about the impact of the program and expressed gratitude toward Maria-Cruz Gray, director of the diocese’s Office of Hispanic Ministry, who inspired and equipped many of them to become leaders in their communities. These women provide guidance in the missions, especially when the priest is away serving others in the community.
To cap off the day, Bishop Solis presented a small gift to the members of Catholic Extension Society’s Mission Committee and Staff as an expression of gratitude for CES’s ongoing support of the Diocese of Salt Lake City.
Laura Vallejo is a staff writer for the Intermountain Catholic. Bryson Brown is a development associate in the Diocese of Salt Lake City Office of Stewardship and Development.
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