Holy Family Parish kicks off capital campaign
SOUTH OGDEN — Helen VanHouten and Harry George, both in their 80s, have lived in Holy Family Parish in South Ogden since the fledgling parish was cut out of St. Joseph and St. Mary Parishes. They recall meeting for Mass in the Country Club Theater, then at Bountiful High School, then at the Alamo Storage Center. The parish held religious education classes in then-Pastor Father George Davich’s basement. Twenty-eight years ago they dreamed of a church. They both worked on the capital campaign to build the parish’s current facility, a multi-purpose center that, on weekends, serves as a church. The Center was dedicated in 1981, and two years later then-Bishop William K. Weigand burned the building’s mortgage. Today, VanHouten and George and many more parishioners new and old, said they are ready to build again – "this time it will be a real church," VanHouten said. "And it’s going to be beautiful." Under the direction of Pastor Father Patrick Elliott, Holy Family Parish kicked off a $3.25 million capital campaign April 15, the title of which is Building With Living Stones, a phrase taken from the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter, "Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship." The campaign’s goal is to build a magnificent new church that will seat 500. "This is really wonderful," George told the Intermountain Catholic. "A new, bigger church is really needed in South Ogden." George and VanHouten and other recalled raising funds for the multi-purpose center by holding dinners, parties, bake sales, pizza lunches, rummage sales, and dances. This capital campaign, designed by Walsh and Associates Church Fundraising and Stewardship Specialists, is already far different. Members of the 350-family parish are being asked to commit to pledges to be paid to the building fund over three years. Forty-four donors were contacted before the campaign even began, resulting in donations totalling $951,100. Upcoming campaign events include a creative giving seminar April 15, Commitment Weekend May 12-13, and Celebration Weekend June 9-10. The campaign is based on two important elements, Fr. Elliot said, stewardship and spirituality. Fr. Elliott led off the parish pledge drive by making a personal three-year pledge of $10,000. After the campaign kick-off meeting, parishioners sat down to a casual lunch. Over sandwiches and potato salad, Virginia Willard, also an original member of the parish, said, "The (architects’) pictures are beautiful, and this new church will be a landmark in South Ogden." Willard said she’s not sure she’ll see a three-year pledge drive to its completion. "I know what I want to give, and I’ll give it all at once. Then, I’ll pray I live long enough to see the church completed." Adeline Kennedy said the new church plans look very good, "and there’s no doubt that we need it now. Still, $3.25 million is a lot of money, even with the almost $1 million already pledged. We’ll have to do a lot of praying." To facilitate the spiritual aspect of the campaign, parishioners are wearing beaded bracelets of many colors that remind them to pray for the new church building and those who will be working on it. Georgia Goodale said she is very excited about the plans for the news church, and is "delighted" to be involved. "I think the money we are trying to raise is realistic," she said. A new member of the Catholic Church and Holy Family Parish, Goodale was baptized three years ago. "This new church will be a great addition to South Ogden," she said. Fr. Elliott said the new church will be the centerpiece of the parish’s 7.5 acre lot. "Our new church building will be designed to evoke a sense of the sacred and inspire intimacy in worship. It will be welcoming in its architectural design, harmonious with its natural surroundings, and aesthetically compatible with Holy Family’s existing building," the campaign brochure states. "Holy Family Parish is growing," Fr. Elliott said during the post-Mass presentation. "This church design was created with an eye to the future of the parish, our growing religious education classes, and the parish’s desire for more worship space, an adoration chapel, and a Marian shrine." Fr. Elliott told the Intermountain Catholic the Marian Shrine will be located behind the sanctuary. "It will contain an 18th century French oak statue of Mary that has been gifted to us. People will have access to the Marian chapel from both sides of the sanctuary." The new church building will also include a eucharistic adoration chapel, stained glass and Rosetta glass windows, a prominent baptistry, reconciliation chapel, children’s chapel a large gathering space, and ample parking. Future office space and specialty rooms, including archive rooms, meeting rooms, and storage areas are also planned for a later building project. "Above all, the parish is in need of worship space that is designed to be worship space and nothing else," Fr. Elliott said. "We are a eucharistic people, and we need an appropriate space to celebrate the Eucharist. Although the current space has served us well, it is time now for us to build a real church in a true spirit of sacrificial giving."
© Copyright 2024 The Diocese of Salt Lake City. All rights reserved.
Stay Connected With Us