St. Patrick Parish in Salt Lake City breaks ground for new religious education center

IC photo/Laura Vallejo

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From left, Father Anastasius Iwuoha, administrator of St. Patrick Parish; Monsignor Terrence J. Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus; Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general; Bishop Oscar A. Solis and Deacon George Reade, chancellor, break ground for the new St. Joseph Center, which will be used for religious education classes.

SALT LAKE CITY — “After many months of praying and hard work of so many members of Saint Patrick’s Parish, we gather today to bless this ground.” These were the first words that Bishop Oscar A. Solis said during the ground-breaking ceremony for the new religious education center for the parish in downtown Salt Lake City.

Construction of the new St. Joseph Center will start soon; the goal is to have it completed by the end of next year.

The building will have adjustable walls so that the large central space can be divided into four rooms if needed.

“We wanted it to be a versatile space,” said Anthony Martinez, the parish’s director of religious education and youth ministry.

The Dec. 1 groundbreaking event was the kickoff “not only for the construction, but also a push for the exposure and fundraising efforts” that the parish community is undertaking to make the religious education center a reality, Martinez said.

The new center will replace the structure that was severely damaged by the March 18, 2020 earthquake. The parish’s church and rectory also were damaged by the 5.7 magnitude earthquake, but they were able to be repaired. However, the building that had been used for religious education as well as social gatherings was so badly damaged that it had to be demolished.

But now “this new St. Joseph Hall is a blessing. We are praying that the beauty of this hall will bring to us the intercession of St. Joseph,” said Father Anastasius Iwuoha, the parish administrator.

The new building will become a reality thanks to the parish community’s efforts, Bishop Solis said as he thanked Fr. Iwuoha for garnering the partnership and collaboration of the members of the parish community “in order to make this dream a reality.”

In the coming months, the parish will be launching various fundraising efforts to pay for the construction project.

St. Patrick Parish is a place where everyone is welcome, “where everyone can be close to God. Every time that we do something for the Church it makes you feel great. It’s time that we give to our parishes,” said Lutty Bahi, who was able to raise $30,000 that was used for repairs at the parish.

He hopes that everyone will step up and contribute to the new St. Joseph Center, he said.

“We need to help where we can,” said Larry Martinez, who has been a St. Patrick parishioner for more than 30 years and serves as the building committee chairman. “We need to wake everyone up so we can all contribute.”

One of the most wonderful things about St. Patrick is “that we have and see the living stones that build the church, the members of your parish community that continue to live their faith actively,” Bishop Solis said. “It is a joy to see the vibrancy and their love for God and for the Church.”

Fr. Iwuoha asked all to “please listen to the call of God and help us make this building a reality.”

“The Lord has given us all that we have and now it is time to give back,” Martinez added.