Father Jim Janda honored with Memorial Mass

IC photo by Marie Mischel

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The Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, and priests from throughout the diocese celebrate a Memorial Mass at Blessed Sacrament Parish for Father James A. Janda on Aug. 25. Msgr. Robert Servatius,(to the right of Bishop Wester) gave the

SANDY — A quiet, reverent service was a fitting memorial for a priest recalled as compassionate and gentle, with a wonderful sense of humor and a love for children and the outdoors.

Father James A. Janda, who died Aug. 7, “proclaimed the gentleness of Christ … (and) the love of Christ through his poetry, through his children’s stories and through that warm and infectious smile, and even playing Scrabble with the residents of (CHRISTUS Saint Joseph) Villa,” said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, during the Memorial Mass on Aug. 25 at Blessed Sacrament Parish, where Fr. Janda served as parochial vicar from 1996 to 2004.

When Fr. Janda arrived in Sandy, “he was well-received by the people of the parish and it became immediately clear to them what a warm and gentle heart he had,” said Msgr. Servatius, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish.

Adults told Fr. Janda that his homilies spoke to them personally, while children immediately bonded with him, Msgr. Servatius said. For example, once Msgr. Servatius came upon Fr. Janda in the Blessed Sacrament School library, telling students about his time on an Indian reservation and how they used natural elements in their lives. “You could have heard a feather drop, those kids were so rapt on hearing what he had to say,” Msgr. Servatius said.

Fr. Janda’s sisters, School Sisters of Notre Dame Sister Barbara Janda and Sue Haley, who attended the memorial service, said they weren’t surprised when he became a priest.

“He loved to help people and serve the sick,” Sr. Barbara said.

Haley recalled that her brother’s generosity was evident early. Once when they were children, he purchased the soundtrack from Lady and the Tramp for her because she wanted it, even though he loved jazz music himself.

“He cared nothing about possessions,” Sister Barbara said. “If he was wearing a sweater and you said ‘That’s a nice sweater,’ he’d take it off and give it to you, so we learned quickly don’t give him anything because it would disappear.”

As a priest, Fr. Janda was popular in the confessional.

“Whenever we gathered as clergy to help out for a penance service here, Fr. Janda was always the last to leave the confessional, people were that fond of him,” said Father Patrick H. Elliott, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Ogden.

“By far, out of anyone, he was one of the most incredible people to go to confession to,” said Blessed Sacrament parishioner Theresa Brandon, who was among a group of people who would take Fr. Janda on outings after his health forced him to retire. “He was the kindest, gentlest, most caring person. He had an incredible ministry just one on one. To my knowledge he was doing confessions up to two weeks before he had a stroke. He never refused anyone.”