Parish ready to rebuild after January fire

MIDVALE — The inside of St. Therese of the Little Child Jesus Catholic Church in Midvale is cavernous. Everything has been removed – pews, crucifix, musical instruments. A January fire took the ambo, Christmas decorations, and altar. Masses are celebrated in the parish social hall/gymnasium.

"We are meeting Feb. 25 with the finance council and the parish council to discuss the parish five-year plan," said Pastor Father Martin Diaz. "We will make plans then for the renovation of the church."

Fr. Diaz said the parish will make some changes in the altar area, the back of the church, and the area previously used as a daily Mass chapel.

"Our goal is to have a church that better serves the community, with more seating; one that is more liturgically correct for the Catholic Church today," said Fr. Diaz.

"This parish community has been very supportive," he said. "They attended Mass in the social hall before when the church was being built, but they are ready to rebuild the inside of the church. The fire happened. Now, we will rebuild and move on. We’re back where the parish was in the early 1970s, but this is a very resilient community."

Despite the fire, all parish services, including their outreach to the poor, continues, said Fr. Diaz.

"The only parts that are missing are the social events we would hold in the social hall," he said. "Everything else is taking place either in the social hall or the little, original church. We moved one funeral and one wedding and reception to other parishes."

He said the parish is taking donations for the renovations, and several parishes in the diocese have made generous donations."

The visit by Bishop Wester Feb. 17 sent a significant message to the members of St. Therese of the Little Child Jesus Parish, said Fr. Diaz.

"It shows that we are all connected," he said. "We are all members of the diocese and the bishop is our pastor. He is showing his concern for his people and our connection to the universal church."