Day care opens at St. Francis Xavier Parish

IC photo/Laura Vallejo

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Cutting the ribbon at the Mother Cabrini Day Care May 21 are (from left) Marianne Rozsahegyi, principal of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School; Father Tai Nguyen; Bishop Oscar A. Solis, and Fr. Eugenio Yarce. Fr. Yarce and Fr. Nguyen are pastors of the parishes of Saint Francis Xavier and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, respectively.

KEARNS — Although May 21 was a cold Friday afternoon on the Wasatch Front, the hearts and souls of many people at Saint Francis Xavier Parish were warm as the blessing of the Mother Cabrini Day Care took place.

The new day care center, an extension of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School and Parish, is housed next to the rectory. Previously, the parish’s Knights of Columbus used the building, but they “graciously gave up the space to be refurnished and adapted to now serve as a beautiful day care,” said Marianne Rozsahegyi, principal of the school.

Bishop Oscar A. Solis, Fr. Eugenio Yarce, the parish pastor, and Fr. Tai Nguyen, pastor of the nearby Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, participated in the blessing and ribbon cutting of the day care.

“This is going to bring lots of blessings to this beautiful community,” said Bishop Solis as he cut the ribbon. “This is a beautiful, beautiful place where the students can feel at home and be in a place to be raised in our Catholic Church. This is a beautiful ministry of St. Francis Xavier where our younger kids can grow and became familiar in this, their other home.”

After acknowledging the help, support and hard work of Fr. Yarce, Rozsahegyi, the Knights  of Columbus and all the community, Bishop Solis blessed with holy water every space of the day care.

Rozsahegyi said the day care “has been a dream for a couple of years.” She thanked the Society of Jesus and Mary, a ministry of the parish; the parish choirs; the Knights of Columbus, “who sacrificed this space;” Sonia West, the school accountant; the whole school and parish staff; and the ALSAM Foundation.

“I am excited for the willingness and godsend of Melissa Sandoval to say yes to the administration of this day care center; she has so much experience,” Rozsahegyi said.

Sandoval said that she was happy to be part of the day care team.

“I know the kids will be happy here,” she said, adding that her goal is to provide the best care in “a loving, secure and dynamic place, where the children will  grow and develop in preparation for the school.”

The Mother Cabrini Day Care is also a place to serve the community, she continued. “Parents can be at ease knowing that while at work their little ones will be safe and in good hands.”

In his comments, Fr. Yarce said the opening of the day care was a joyous occasion. “We now can give a more extended service to our community,” he said.

Mother Cabrini Day Care will serve children from 18 months old to 3 years old, with a capacity of 20 kids. Enrollment is now open; hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 6: 30 p.m. Monday thru Friday. For information, call 801-968-8943.