Unique groundbreaking at old Bryner Clinic marks a new beginning for CCS

Intermountain Catholic

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Officials of Intermountain Health Care (IHC) and representative of the Diocese of Salt Lake City raise the metal joists of a wall in the old Bryner Clinic that is being renovated to meet the needs of Catholic Community Services (CCS) of Utah. Among those joining in the wall raising are local activist Pamela Atkinson, second from left; Maggie St. Claire, executive director of CCS, fifth from left; Diocesan Administrator Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, sixth from left; Merrill Gappmayer of IHC, seventh from left; and Dr. Dominic Albo, representing the CCS Board of Directors, eighth from left.

SALT LAKE CITY — The old Bryner Clinic on 300 South in Salt Lake City is getting a new look and a new mission. Thanks to a generous gift from Intermountain Health Care (IHC), the clinic building will become the new home of Catholic Community Services. In addition, IHC is contributing $450,000 in funds to be matched by the Diocese of Salt Lake City and other donors. Those funds will be used to pay for extensive renovation.

In a unique indoor groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 19, officials of IHC, representatives of the diocese and CCS, and supporters marked the transition that is making a new home for CCS possible by raising a new wall on the site.

"We all have the same goals here," said Bill Nelson, president of IHC. "We are all here to help meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable in our community."

Diocesan Administrator Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald opened the ceremony with a prayer, then said the newly renovated building will serve refugees, immigrants, the poor, and the marginalized, as well a men and women in need of residential rehabilitation services.

"It is a joy to welcome all of you who have done so much to make this possible," he said. "This is a historic day; a tremendous leap into the future for Catholic Community Services.

"We have gathered you here for two reasons, said Msgr. Fitzgerald, "to say thank you and so you can join us in watching the unfolding of a big dream."

He spoke of the rich history of CCS, which has served the needs of the poor and marginalized since 1945, and thanked IHC, saying, "I don’t know how they find the time and energy to care about these issues."

Community activist Pamela Atkinson and CCS board of directors member Dr. Dominic Albo will lead the drive to raise another $450,000 to match the IHC gift.

Merrill Gappmayer of IHC spoke of the good work of CCS, saying IHC and CCS can do more together than they can working alone. "We have common goals and desires to help others."

Gappmayer said the Bryner Clinic was built by Drs. Bryner and Wood and in 1962 and once had 35 physicians, all dedicated to serving those in need. "We are pleased to take part in continuing the tradition of care, compassion and service to the poor on this site. By doing so we honor the first physicians who established the Bryner clinic and we also move their tradition forward at the right time. CCS will continue the legacy of care and concern for the well being of others."

Gappmayer quoted Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini, saying "It takes many hand and the greatest of hearts to see that people’s needs are met," and encouraged others to contribute generously to the fund drive.

"The more partners we have the more successful we will be," he said. "I want to thank the Catholic diocese and CCS for taking care of the needs of others in our community."

CCS Executive Director Maggie St. Claire said the spirit of healing established by the Bryner Clinic will be carried on at CCS, and that she is certain the fund raising efforts will succeed.

"We are standing now in the public area of the women’s residential rehabilitation center. When the ribbon-cutting is held in July you will be able to see offices, treatment centers, refugee resettlement offices, and administration offices all on the same site."

St. Claire said she can never say too many thank yous to IHC, the Diocese of Salt Lake City, and other generous donors who are making the new home for CCS possible.

"We spend our lives saying thank you. Today we thank IHC, the Eccles Foundation, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation, American Express, Irene Sweeney, Msgr. Fitzgerald, the Diocese of Salt Lake City, and of course, our board of directors. We thank Culp Construction, whom we love working with. They are doing a great job. And we thank our architect, David Richardson.

"Our list of thank yous is long and our thank yous are sincere," St. Claire said. "We are mission-driven, and we have a wonderful staff. But, we need help for the bricks and mortar things. We believe in the saying, ‘If you build it they will come.’ Your generosity gives us the tools to do our job well. There is energy and synergy at this site, and we believe, with your help, we will be able to help people move forward to lead healthy, productive lives.

"We will be here to help children go to school and see that they don’t go to bed hungry," St Claire said. "The co-location of our services will also help us resettle from 300 -400 refugees each year. It will also help us serve immigrants whose very survival hangs in the balance."