Two weeks of celebration coming to St. George

Intermountain Catholic

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Gate doors

SAINT GEORGE - The community of Saint George will be celebrating the dedication of their Catholic Church with two weeks of festivities that will start on Aug. 16 and will last till the Aug. 29.

The celebration will include live performances such as Alex Boye from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Heritage Choir, and will also include different auctions, social dinners and gatherings.

"We are going to have five concerts and a dedication Mass with all the community leaders, political leaders, religious leaders and diplomatic leaders," said Father Gustavo Adolfo Vidal, pastor of Saint George Catholic Church.

The church will present five new images of saints, which are going to be located in an altarpiece that was created for this special occasion. The images will depict Saint George, Saint Judas Tadeo, Saint Francis of Assisi, the Archangel Michael and Saint Anthony of Padua. "Not all the images have arrived yet, [but] we already have the others in the altarpiece," Fr Vidal said.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, will officiate at the Dedication Mass, with special guest Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter day Saints.

"We are also going to have almost all the mayors and municipalities of St. George city and county as well as other ministers from other Christian churches such as the Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran and Mormon church," said Fr Vidal.

"I think all this is wonderful; I am very excited and joyful to be part of these activities that are going to be great," said Rita Cohen, a member of the Renovation and Designation Committee of St. George Parish. "Fr Vidal has done a great job. The church is absolutely beautiful and it leaves you with a great inspiration and reinforces your devotion."

Other parishioners also see the renovation as meaningful "For me the dedication mean two things: First, we are making history in Utah and particularly in the south of the state, because we are becoming the second religious force here; the renovation of our church is setting a precedent in all the non-Catholic religious groups," said Marlon Figueroa of the St. George Parish Council.

"I am extending the invitation to everybody because this is a party, this is a very big historical celebration not only for the Catholics in Utah but for everyone," said Fr. Vidal.