Shaken and soul-stirred: St. Patrick parishioners rejoice as church reopens after earthquake damage

IC photo/Laura Vallejo

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The sign in front of the church, on 400 South in Salt Lake City, announces the reopening.

SALT LAKE CITY – St. Patrick Parish in Salt Lake City suffered a double blow a year ago. Like all other parishes in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, it closed its doors to public worship and activities on March 13, 2020 in response to Bishop Oscar A. Solis’ call to do so because of the pandemic. Then, five days later, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook the Wasatch Front. While no deaths or major injuries were reported as a result of the earthquake and its numerous aftershocks, St. Patrick Parish suffered significant damage to the church building, the rectory and the classroom center. Although the rectory continued to be habitable, the other two buildings had to be closed.

“Thank God no parishioners were present at the time due to the statewide ‘Stay Safe, Stay Home’ directive in hopes to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Father Anastasius Iwuoha, the parish administrator.

That marked the start of an almost yearlong road to recovery. By the end of that March, the Parish WhatsApp was launched to reach parishioners, and a few weeks later the parish website was online for communication and for at-home lessons for religious education.

In May, when Bishop Solis announced public worship could resume within state regulations for limited numbers of people while practicing proper mask wearing and social distancing protocols, St. Patrick parishioners began gathering for Mass in the parish social hall, “the only place that was not damaged,” Fr. Iwuoha said.

Faced with the repairs for the earthquake damage, community needs and a decrease in the donations to the collection plate because of the limited number of parishioners allowed to attend Mass, the parish got creative in its fundraising efforts. An opportunity drawing reached its goal of $25,000, allowing repairs to start.

Then, “we were awarded the Salt Lake County Impact Grant,” which helped finish the repairs to the church and start the repairs at the rectory, Fr. Iwuoha said.

 “There have been a lot of blessings despite the challenges,” he said, adding that he is very grateful to for the community support through these unprecedented times.

After the months of closure, this year St. Patrick parishioners got an early start to Easter joy: Their church reopened its doors for Holy Week.

“We are now able to gather inside our church. … The rectory is almost ready, but the other spaces still need to be repaired,” Fr. Iwuoha said.

Fundraising efforts are continuing for the remainder of the repairs, he said, noting that he has faith that the community will not turn their backs on the need.

“They have not, despite all the difficulties; they have always been here for their parish,” he said. “We are grateful for the families that have continued to give during these trying times. Your support means a lot. The parish is not the responsibility of a few, but the responsibility of the whole community. We understand that all families are having difficulties. Let us all support one another and work together to ensure that St. Patrick Parish can always stay open and operating.”

Kaya Achebe, a Saint Patrick’s parishioner, couldn’t be happier at being able to attend Mass at the parish once again.

“Between the struggles of the pandemic and having our church closed due to all the repairs, the day that I heard it was going to be open again I jumped for joy,” she said.