Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish rejoices in renovations

Intermountain Catholic

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The Most Rev. John C. Wester (seated, center) presided over a celebratory Mass Dec. 16 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Kearns and blessed the renovations that have been completed. Shown are members of the parish in a dance of thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity and to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. IC photo/Marie Mischel

KEARNS — Keeping with the theme of rejoicing on Gaudete Sunday, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish celebrated the completion of renovations to the church with a Mass presided over by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, who also blessed the remodeling.

The work included new floor tiles throughout the church, expansion of the overflow room, a new railing for the choir loft, rerouting the heating and air conditioning ducts, a new ceiling, a new roof over the classrooms, new paint, a new sound system and the addition of a gazebo outside. Most visible to visitors, however, is the new mural behind the altar. The mural depicts the crucifixion, with the Virgin Mary and two disciples at the foot of the cross.

"For the Vietnamese people, we have suffered a lot; we lived in a poor country and encountered so much suffering during the Vietnam War and after," said Father Dominic Thuy Dang Ha, the pastor. "That’s why the Calvary scenery is comforting, because Jesus is suffering with us."

To reflect the local community, the scenery in the mural is suggestive of the Rocky Mountains, and the crucifix’s foot rest and INRI sign are pieces of wood from a tree outside the church that was cut down as a result of the renovations.

The mural artist, ViVi Vo Hung Kiet, is the brother-in-law of one of the parish council members.

While welcoming everyone to the celebratory Mass, Fr. Thuy said, "Your presence solemnizes our thanksgiving to Almighty God today. After much prayer, years of planning and finally after four months of work, we began and now we accomplish our dream of major renovations today."

The blessing of the renovations was a suitable celebration for Gaudete Sunday, Fr. Thuy said, because it allowed those attending the Mass to rejoice in anticipation of the birth of the Lord, as well as the remodeling’s completion

While the work was being completed, the parish celebrated Mass in the church’s basement.

The vibrant Vietnamese parish with its rich cultural traditions "deepens all of our appreciation for the catholicity of our church," Bishop Wester said during his homily.

"Your beautiful work in this church is a symbol of Christ’s love for you and your love for Christ," the bishop added, although he acknowledged that it was difficult to feel celebratory because of the shootings two days before at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and the recent death of a Vietnamese student in Salt Lake City.

Nevertheless, Bishop Wester said, Gaudete Sunday’s perspective is that, even in suffering, Christians have reason to rejoice because "in God, we have a future, and those children and adults killed at Sandy Hook School have a future, a future that can never be taken away by violence or any other means. God is near and we rejoice even through our tears."

Concelebrating the Mass were Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general of the Diocese of Salt Lake City; Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus; Father Peter Do, associate pastor of Saint Catherine of Siena/Newman Center in Salt Lake City; Father Robert Moriarty, pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Kearns; Father Tai Nguyen, parochial vicar of Saint George Parish in St. George; and Father Thuy. Deacon Dale Dillon assisted.

At the end of Mass, Steve To, chairman of the Parish Council, thanked the bishops, priests, parishioners and guests. "On this special occasion, we acknowledge, appreciate and thank you for your support for the last 19 years," he said. "Without your support we wouldn’t be here today."

Among those attending was Phil Hofstetter, who was involved with building the original church. "The community here is fantastic," he told those gathered at the luncheon that followed the Mass. "It’s amazing at every level. I think you’re an example for the whole diocese. The bishop was right on when he said the beauty of the structure is reflected by your love for God."