Mass closes parish's year on the Eucharist

Friday, Jul. 28, 2023

WEST VALLEY CITY — Hundreds of Sts. Peter and Paul parishioners gathered on July 16 to celebrate the closing Mass of their 2022-23 pastoral year, which had the theme “Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life of Saints Peter and Paul.” 

Throughout the past year the parish has had several events to teach about the Eucharist and for community gathering. Father Sébastien Sasa, the parish administrator, said this is part of the parish effort to follow the Diocesan Pastoral Plan and  “as a response to our bishop’s call. … Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City is a community of faithful Catholics who believe in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is a community that celebrates the Word of God, the Eucharist and the other sacraments.” 

For the July 16 occasion, people gathered in the parish parking lot, which was decorated for the celebration. Bishop Oscar A. Solis presided at the Mass; Fr. Sasa concelebrated. Deacon Dale Dillon assisted. 

In his comments, the bishop said that the parish, by their evangelization efforts, has set the tone for everyone in the community, and that Sts. Peter and Paul has created a special place of worship. 

“This parish community is filled with joy, life and solidarity in the faith. ... This is very important in today’s world, where we face many challenges,” Bishop Solis said. “We need to always have God present in our lives.”

In thanking the bishop, Fr. Sasa said, “All this is the fruit of the action of God, of the Holy Spirit through our teams: the staff, the parish council, the parish assembly and the generous holy Catholic people of West Valley City. Thank you very much for this spirit of collaboration, co-responsibility, synodality.” 

Directing his words to Bishop Solis, Fr. Sasa described the parish community as “welcoming, eucharistic, vibrant, missionary .... rich in its diversity, that attempts to welcome everyone: those who come here for the first time, those who come to adore Jesus, to confess or to talk with me at the office. ... Everyone is welcome in our parish family.” 

The parish community will continue evangelizing through words and actions, and will keep proclaiming God’s word, Fr. Sasa said. “Our parish has made the Eucharist the center of their lives. … The Holy Spirit is at work in our family of Sts. Peter and Paul. Our hearts are like those of the disciples of Emmaus when they listen to Jesus speak to them of the Word of God. Our hearts vibrate and we sing and praise our God with joy.”

The parish now is organizing its third Catholic Missionary Week, which will “animate our parish with a missionary spirit,” Fr. Sasa said.