Parish anniversary celebrated

IC photo/Laura Vallejo

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Couples celebrate a community wedding at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish.

MIDVALE — Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish began in 1917 as Saint Joseph Mission. From 1917 to 1925, the founding pastor, Father Timothy O’Brien, celebrated Mass in a private house on Main Street.

Later Mass was held at the Woodsmen of America/Odd Fellows Hall facility, then at Goff Mortuary. Parishioners came in horse-drawn carriages from as far away as Riverton; in winter their trip could take up to two hours.

Fr. McGuire, who remained at the parish until 1934, purchased the land for what is now known as the Stone Chapel. After it was built, it was blessed by Bishop John J. Mitty on Sept. 28, 1928.

The parish’s second pastor, Father Joseph I. Gosselin changed the name to St. Therese; in later years it gained the full name of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus.

To celebrate the centennial, the parish proposed community weddings to strengthen the faith of many families who live without the Sacrament of Marriage, said the administrator, Fr. Jose A. Barrera, who quotes St. John Paul II: “Faith is strengthened by giving it, sharing it with others.”

On Sept. 9, 16 couples were married by the Church, “to fulfill the words of the Letter to the Hebrews 13:4 – ‘Let all respect the marriage and not stain the marital union,” Fr. Barrera said.

Some of the couples also received their First Communion that day, having completed their catechesis in the RCIA program, he said.

“Celebrating 100 years of faith in Midvale is a historic moment,” Fr. Barrera said. “The parish community has grown a lot and the worldview has changed. One area that needs our greatest pastoral care is the family. The challenge of continuing to make our Saint Therese Parish a community very strong in faith can only be possible if we are persevering and generous parishioners.”

Courtesy of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish.