Sts. Peter and Paul Parish opens missionary center

Friday, Aug. 15, 2025

 WEST VALLEY CITY — As Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City celebrated its patron saint and the conclusion of the pastoral year, they also marked the opening of two centers at the church that will help with their activities.

“In full communion with the bishop and the Diocese of Salt Lake City, the Missionary Center Saints Peter and Saint Paul (MCSPP) is the parish structure responsible for accompanying, organizing, and supporting the missionary animation and formation of all ecclesial entities, as well as the missionary cooperation of our Church through its Little Missionaries and the Missionary Group,” said Father Sebastien Sasa, pastor.

The MCSPP is located inside the parish. It will be used by parish community leaders, who will coordinate all the activities of the parish mission weeks. These are initiatives of Fr. Sasa that dedicate weeks to different themes such as gratitude, hope, faith and service, among others.

Within the MCSPP is “a listening center to assist families facing certain problems,” Fr. Sasa said.

As part of the MCSPP, the parish will publish a monthly document, “the Missionary Review Duc in Altum,” “which is the organ for spreading the testimonies, experiences, and missionary reflections of our community, our Diocese of Salt Lake City, and those elsewhere,” Fr. Sasa said.

In addition to the MCSPP, the parish now has an Archives Center, which is a space to preserve all the documents that the parish produces, such as those related to each one of the missionary weeks and the pastoral year themes.

The two centers recently were blessed by the Very Reverend Langes Silva, diocesan judicial vicar.

 In July, a thanksgiving Mass was celebrated for the conclusion of the pastoral year, which had the theme “Bible: Word of God for Life.” Bishop Oscar A. Solis presided at the Mass, with Fr. Sasa as a concelebrant.

At the Mass, Bishop Solis thanked the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish community for being examples of what being faithful missionary disciples means.

“The community here in Saints Peter and Paul, has and is always working hard to evangelize. …  I talk to you from my heart, thank you all and may God bless you all,” Bishop Solis said.

Highlighting that the pastoral leadership of the pastor, deacons and community leaders is not complete without the support of the parish community, Bishop Solis expressed his gratitude for the ministry “and collaboration to edify this community of Christ in West Valley. I am very proud and happy when I come here because I have discovered a very alive community filled with joy and hope in our Lord. Keep up this work and this evangelization in these communities and in our diocese.”

For the past several years, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish has incorporated the diocesan Pastoral Plan by incorporating different themes for each year. They also have held missionary weeks and other works as “part of the parish effort to follow the diocesan Pastoral Plan and as a response to our bishop’s call,” Fr. Sasa said. “The parish community will continue evangelizing through words and actions, and will keep proclaiming God’s word.”