St. James the Just Parish celebrates 50 years
Friday, Aug. 26, 2016
IC photo/Marie Mischel
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Father Erik Richtsteig, pastor of Saint James the Just Parish, celebrates the Mass in honor of the parish's 50th anniversary. Concelebrators were Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, diocesan administrator; Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus; and former pastors Father Donald Hope, Monsignor Joseph Mayo and Monsignor Terence Moore. Assisting at the Mass were Deacons Robert Bambrick, Herschel Hester and Steve Neveraski. See additional photos on the Intermountain Catholic Facebook page.
By Marie Mischel
Intermountain Catholic
OGDEN — With a host of founding parishioners and three former pastors in attendance, the Aug. 20 golden anniversary Mass at Saint James the Just Parish honored its past and looked forward to the future.
The Mass was an opportunity to “give thanks to the Lord for his munificence and for his provident care for us over the past 50 years,” to express appreciation to the parishioners for their diligence and hard work, and “to look ahead to the bright future that this parish of St. James the Just has,” said Monsignor Terence Moore in his homily.
Msgr. Moore, now retired, was pastor of St. James the Just Parish from 1980 to 1983.
Two other former pastors also concelebrated the Mass: Monsignor Joseph Mayo (1983-1987), now pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish; and Father Donald Hope, retired (1996-2002).
Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, diocesan administrator, and Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus, were concelebrants at the Mass as well.
In his homily, Msgr. Moore recognized the deacons and religious women “who have served this parish with wonderful pastoral care and compassion over the past 50 years,” as well as many of the parish’s founding members.
“It’s a great honor that we are with you – you who gave your blood, sweat and tears, if you wish, and your dedication in the development and the formation of this lovely parish,” he said.
St. James the Just Parish was established in 1966 by the Most Rev. Joseph L. Federal, sixth Bishop of Salt Lake City. It was named in memory of James Dinneen, whose widow, Edith Dinneen, donated land for the parish.
Msgr. Moore spoke of his memories of his time as the parish pastor: He appreciated the invitations from parishioners to dine in their homes, enjoyed hiking in the nearby foothills of Mount Ogden, and said that he “soon came to realize the rich liturgical life that was here at St. James Parish. It was clearly centered on the Lord Jesus and his paschal mystery, and it was so easy to sense the Lord’s presence among his people here, and I will always be thankful to you for that.”
When he was reassigned, he was reluctant to leave, he said. “I am sure that every pastor here – every one of us here – could speak to experiences that we had where we were beneficiaries of your goodness and your warmth.”
After the Mass, a celebratory dinner was held in the parish’s social hall. Among the dignitaries attending were Fr. Charles Cummins, chaplain of the Newman Center at Weber State College; Fr. Patrick Elliott, pastor of Holy Family Parish; and mayors Brent Taylor of North Odgen and Toby Mileski of Pleasant View.
Tables spread with memorabilia lined the hall. Looking at the photos and scrapbooks, Rob Wardle said it brought back memories of his mother, who helped start the parish’s CCD program; and his father, one of the first deacons.
“It calls to mind all of the people that I’ve known over the years who have either passed on or passed through. It’s a nice celebration,” added Wardle, who serves as the parish council president, teaches confirmation, and is involved with the music ministry and the youth program.
Margaret Lawler, chairperson of the anniversary celebration, recalled memories of the parish pastors she has known personally. Naming those pastors who sat at the head table, she said, “We have all grown because of these wonderful examples that we have here in front of us.”
In an interview, Fr. Erik Richtsteig, the current pastor, who was assigned in 2003 and led the effort to build the new church, said if he were to give a message to his parishioners, he would say, “You guys have done a great job – keep doing it. Just because it’s 50 doesn’t mean you stop doing the good stuff. Continue to work and gather closer to the Lord.”
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