Saint Patrick Parish in Salt Lake City opens new religious education center

IC photo/Linda Petersen

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Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus, prepares to cut the ribbon on the St. Joseph Center at St. Patrick Parish in Salt Lake City. Counting down are (from left) Deacon Otto Johansson; Father John Evans, vicar general; and Father Anastasius Iwuoha, parish administrator.

SALT LAKE CITY — The ribbon on the new St. Joseph Center for religious education at St. Patrick Parish was cut during a celebration on Oct. 26, with Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus, wielding the ceremonial scissors. It was a joyous day for the parish, which suffered extensive damage to the church, rectory and religious education building in the 2020 earthquake.

The church and rectory were quickly repaired, but the religious education building, known as the St. Joseph Center, could not be salvaged and had to be rebuilt. Msgr. Fitzgerald was the parish pastor from 1975 to 1982, during which time the original St. Joseph Center was constructed, and he was instrumental in helping acquire funding for the new building, Fr. Anastasius Iwuoha, parish administrator told the congregation at the end of the Oct. 26 Mass that preceded the ribbon cutting.

Fr. Iwuoha also thanked the parishioners, diocese and others who had helped make the building a reality.

Following the ribbon-cutting, Fr. Iwuoha blessed the new building. With its opening he now feels as though a heavy burden has been lifted from his shoulders and those of parishioners, he told the Intermountain Catholic.

“It’s a joy to work for the Lord in such a manner because this has really challenged us for a long time,” he said. “We really didn’t know that we could do this, because we have little finances, and the money [construction costs] kept going up. But I prayed, and the parish prayed, asked God’s help, and then help came from everywhere, and the parishioners really worked hard. So, my joy is full that this has happened; at last, we have crowned all the efforts.”

The new St. Joseph Center will be the home for the parish’s four religious education classes, which have 54 students from kindergarten through Confirmation age. It will also be used for activities by the parish’s various ethnic communities, and by prayer groups and for meetings.

Father John Evans, vicar general, celebrated the Mass prior to the building’s blessing. Concelebrants were Msgr. Fitzgerald; Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general emeritus; Fr. Iwuoha; and Father Gregory Ezeanya and Father Goodwin Tema Nnamezie, who are both Holy Cross Hospitals chaplains.

“It’s a wonderful day to celebrate following Mass,” Fr. Evans said in remarks after the Mass. “Many priests in the history of this place have come here and come to absolutely love the parish, the people of Saint Patrick’s community. They built this church; they built up the Body of Christ here in the neighborhood and around. They did this as they added one building after another, leaving something better behind for their children and grandchildren for generations to come. And so, don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Let the goodness of God guide you right and ask God for what you really want. That’s exactly what is happening here, and that’s part of what we’re celebrating in the blessing that we’re about to ask out there.”

Although the parish had insurance on the old building, increased construction costs for the new building meant the parish depleted all of its savings and some of its operating budget to complete the project, said Anthony Martinez, St Patrick’s director of religious education and youth ministry.

Now the parish is engaged in ongoing fundraising to replenish these funds and to furnish the new building. It welcomes help from other parishioners in the diocese. To donate, visit https://stpatrickslc.org/st-joseph-building-fund.