Community welcome at expanded facility

Courtesy photo/Andy Airriess

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The Filipino Madrigal Choir perform in Saint Joseph the Worker Church. The parish hopes to plan more concerts for music lovers.

WEST JORDAN — Saint Joseph the Worker Parish is not only a place of Catholic worship for its members, but has become a welcome center for the community at large.

"The building of our new church has made it a landmark," said Anne Kurek, parish secretary. "Our earliest plans included making our campus a multi-purpose center for serving our Catholic community and activities that included the broader community.

St. Joseph the Worker has a large projector and screen conducive for meetings as well as an outdoor courtyard with a gorgeous view of the Wasatch Mountains. It also has a 6.5-acre sports field, and Sister Fabian Hall.

The hall is named after Franciscan Sr. Fabian Uriot, who served the parish for 27 years and died April 21.

Although the church was dedicated on May 1, the building and grounds already are being used by the community.

"The Filipino Madrigal Choir performed a concert on April 15 in the church and the acoustics were beautiful," said Kurek. "We hope to have a lot more events for music lovers."

Other planned events on the campus include the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Safe Surrender program from Sept. 21-24, during which St. Joseph the Worker Church will serve as a courthouse.

"The program is new in Utah, but has been used successfully in other states," said Kurek. "This is a way for fugitives who have outstanding warrants to voluntarily turn themselves into the law. Social Services will be available onsite."

Also scheduled are soccer games. Every Saturday children in soccer leagues from St. Joseph the Worker, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, and the community will play soccer on the field.

The parish will celebrate its Founder’s Day picnic June 12. The festivities will include a special 50th anniversary party for Father James Semple, a retired priest who often celebrates Mass at St. Joseph the Worker.

The annual St. Joseph the Worker FolkFest will be held on the field Sept. 9-11. On Sept. 16-17, about 200 Boy Scouts from about 30 troops will use the field for a campout. The Girl Scouts are scheduled to use the St. Joseph the Worker Hall every Tuesday evening in May. "This will give girls an opportunity to get acquainted with Girl Scouts without committing or paying dues or fees," said Kurek. "On May 27, the Brownies will have a sleepover in the hall. Many of these girls have never been to a sleepover or campout."

A day camp with activities on the field and in the hall is scheduled in July for the youth. This has been a tradition at St. Joseph the Worker for quite a few years.

The parish also has scheduled some campouts on the field for the greater community. "What’s nice is that it’s close, it’s safe and it’s in a beautiful setting," she said. "Families can bring their tents and campers without having to go too far."

"Our new facility allows us a great opportunity to share with others and to be a vital part of the bigger community," said Father Patrick Carley, pastor. "We have a number of facilities now for sports, concerts and social events, and we should share them with others. Every Sunday at Mass when we break bread, we’re breaking it for the world, not just for our own little world."