Fr. Van Massenhove to retire

Intermountain Catholic

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Father David Van Massenhove.

SANDY – On occasions when a priest retires, his parishioners are left with feelings that usually are both sweet and sour.

Terry Stack, longtime Saint Thomas More parishioner, came to that realization as she reflected about her memories of Father David Van Massenhove.

"I am now coming to the realization he is actually retiring," said Stack. "I am sad he won’t be our pastor, but he will always be a best friend to my family. He has been a true and worthy friend for over 30 years."

Fr. Van Massenhove, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, will be retire as of Feb. 1 after 30 years of service as an ordained priest. He was ordained in 1983 by the Most Rev. William K. Weigand for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

Fr. Van Massenhove’s first assignment was as an associate pastor of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Holladay. He then had several assignments as parochial vicar, among them at Saint Ambrose Parish in Salt Lake City, Saint Marguerite Parish in Tooele, Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish in Hyde Park and the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City.

He also served as a chaplain for Holy Cross Hospital, the U.S. Air Force Inactive Reserve and the Utah Air National Guard. In addition, he was the sacramental minister for Immaculate Conception Parish. He took his current position as pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in 2002.

One of the ministries that Fr. Van Massenhove will miss the most is his service at the hospitals, he said.

"Sometimes I did not have the answers, but I hope that they felt my care," he said. "I have always been nonjudgmental and compassionate and I always try to see every parishioner that was at the hospital. One of the things that I will miss the most is the hospital ministry."

Meanwhile, his parishioners will miss his presence at church and in their lives.

"Fr. Dave has the ability to connect and inspire people of all ages with his homilies. He takes the Gospel and applies it to real-life situations through his stories with his sense of humor. Fr. Dave is a supporter of all of the St. Thomas More events throughout the year," said Stack, adding that her family has had the pleasure of meeting Fr. Van Massenhove’s family. "It was apparent that Fr. Dave had a great foundation from which he drew his strength and dedication to the priesthood. Fr. Dave’s Uncle Leo was a Catholic priest and said the happiest day of his life was when Fr. Dave was ordained."

Other parishioners agreed with Stack, sharing that Fr. Van Massenhove, besides being their pastor, has been a dear friend.

"Fr. Dave is a unique and special individual in several ways. Not only is he very holy, he believes in what he is doing and he is a great communicator. He sends the message of Christ in a way that we can all understand it. … He is a tremendous asset to his chosen profession," said Tom Hopkins, who together with his wife, Carolyn, have been parishioners of St. Thomas More for over 12 years.

Hopkins also shares with Fr. Van Massenhove a love of the Green Bay Packers.

"We spent a lot of time talking about them; we also went to the movies together. He will always be my friend," Hopkins said. "He won’t ever retire as my friend, so I am very lucky to have him as my friend."

Stack said that those people who know and love Fr. Van Massenhove will pray for his lasting health and happiness.

"Everybody feels sadness and joy," Hopkins said. "We’re very happy for him that he has reached the point of his life that he can retire. I wish him the very best in his retirement and wish him nothing but good health and longevity living it to his fullest."

After Fr. Van Massenhove’s retirement, Monsignor Terence Moore, ret., will serve as sacramental minister of Saint Thomas More.