St. Vincent de Paul Parish to celebrate 100 years

Friday, Sep. 05, 2025

HOLLADAY— St. Vincent de Paul Parish is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year, with events planned to honor those who have contributed to the parish over the past one hundred years.

“This is a joyful event for us to commemorate all the people who’ve been part of our parish – the priests, the deacons, the lay people, to remember all the people who’ve been part of our parish and those we’ve served and acknowledge how much we’ve grown and developed over the time,” said Father Sam Dinsdale, pastor.

The parish’s history of serving local Catholics began in 1925 when the Most Rev. Joseph S. Glass, second Bishop of Salt Lake City, established St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Murray. At that time, it encompassed a large area that now also is served by the parishes of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Midvale), Blessed Sacrament and St. Thomas More (both in Sandy), and St. Martin de Porres (Taylorsville). Father Patrick Maguire was appointed as the parish’s first pastor, and initial liturgies were held in a fraternal hall.

The parish’s location and footprint have evolved over the years. The Most Rev. John J. Mitty, third Bishop of Salt Lake City, laid the cornerstone of a new church at 1893 Wasatch Ave. on May 30, 1927, and dedicated the building on Jan. 2, 1928. In December 1962, the current property was purchased. Ground was broken on the St. Vincent de Paul parish school, which included eight classrooms, a convent and a hall, in August 1963. The Most Rev. Joseph L. Federal, the sixth bishop of the diocese, dedicated a new church and rectory on the site on May 18, 1975, during the parish’s 50th anniversary. The parish added a catechetical center in 1980, and on May 18, 1985, the Most Rev. William K. Weigand, the seventh bishop of the diocese, dedicated the Benvegnu Parish Center. In 2001, Holy Family Parish Hall was built from funds that included a significant donation from then-parishioners Sam and Aline Skaggs.

As part of the centennial celebrations, the Most Rev. Oscar A. Solis, 10th Bishop of Salt Lake City, will celebrate a Mass on Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. Concelebrating priests will include Father John Norman, a retired priest of the diocese, who served as the parish pastor from 2012 to 2022.

Following the Mass, current and former parishioners will gather with the priests for a special dinner gala at Holy Family Hall. Tickets are $125 per individual, with patron tables for 10 available for $2,000.

“It’s a way to get everyone together to break bread,” said Deacon Jeff Allen, who is helping with the celebration. “We’ll have Mass with the bishop before, and then we’ll gather for this dinner gala where we can listen to some talks about the parish and the faithful by current and past priests and deacons and just break bread together.”

The parish will also hold a Fall Family Centennial Festival on Oct. 18, from 4 to 8 p.m., which will include crafts, games and food trucks in conjunction with the St. Vincent de Paul school community.

 “It’s going to be inviting the school families and children to participate whereas the gala is more of an adult-oriented affair,” Deacon Allen said.

The parish is also offering St. Vincent de Paul Parish centennial merchandise, including hats, T-shirts, hoodies, water bottles, mugs, blankets, beanies and even a teddy bear wearing a centennial T-shirt. Merchandise is available at Thevikingvault.printful.me.