Saint Joseph High School juniors travel to meet Bishop Wester and visit Diocesan Pastoral Center

photo courtesy of St. Joseph Catholic High School

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Bishop John C. Wester discusses the work of the Diocesan Pastoral Center with juniors from St. Joseph High School in Ogden. 

by Shannon Sousa and

Jessica Winward

SALT LAKE CITY — Saint Joseph Catholic High School’s Junior Class of 50 students took a field trip to Salt Lake City to visit the Diocesan Pastoral Center and have lunch with the Most Reverend John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City April 10.

This enriching activity further deepened our appreciation and knowledge of all the hard work that goes into running a diocese.

Upon our arrival we met Pam Commons, the coordinator of this educational event. We then separated into smaller groups and toured the major departments in the building. Some of the offices we visited were Family Life, Diocesan Development Drive, Finance, Chancery, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and the Hispanic Ministry. Throughout the tour we were introduced to many devoted Catholics who work diligently to accomplish the necessary tasks in the diocese. We gained an admiration for all of the people behind the scenes of the Pastoral Center.

A highlight of the day included touring the house in which the Intermountain Catholic is published. One of the editors showed us the complex procedures in producing this paper before and after the invention of the ever-necessary computer. It was also fascinating to learn about the history of the old house, which featured the unique cabinets within cabinets (before closets were invented) and winding staircases with low banisters.

At lunchtime we were fortunate enough to talk with Bishop Wester over pizza from the Pie Pizzeria. We asked questions that were pertinent to our lives as students. Mark Howerton, a member of Saint James Parish, asked what the diocese had in store for Saint Joseph Catholic High School in the future. Bishop Wester responded that the diocese will always support our school to the best of its abilities. He answered every question with a respectful and well-thought out answer. He showed an obvious concern for each and every one of the students.

Following the break, we toured the Cathedral of the Madeleine and were taught a brief history of the architecture. We were fascinated by the colorful murals and stained glass windows depicting the mysteries of the rosary. We were intrigued by the case of the missing stained glass windows that disappeared in the early 1900s. Hannah Maher commented, "The pictures were breathtaking and it’s amazing how something so beautiful was right in the center of Salt Lake City." Everyone enjoyed the quiet, peaceful atmosphere while walking around the church.

The Junior Class of St. Joseph Catholic High School would like to thank everyone who put the time and effort into making our field trip as enjoyable and interesting as it was. We hope that future classes from not only our school, but also the others from our diocese, will have the opportunity to share in the experiences we had.