A decade of church life marked in Park City

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester celebrates the 10th anniversary Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Church. Concelebrating with the bishop are (from left) Msgr. Robert J. Bussen, pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Father Sam Dinsdale, pastoral associate, and Father James E. Flynn (retired). Many in the congregation had attended the dedication Mass Aug. 15, 1997.

PARK CITY — Ten years is just a tiny fraction of the life of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City, founded in 1881. An anniversary Mass celebrated Aug. 17 by Bishop John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, marked 10 years since the dedication of the parish’s new church on White Pine Road. The Mass and the dinner that followed were all about the rich history of the parish, memories shared, and tributes to the people who have given so much to the parish over its long history.

Beginning with a sprinkling of the waters of baptism, the anniversary Mass followed as closely as possible the same liturgy as the dedication Mass a decade ago. Bishop Wester asked everyone who had attended the dedication Mass to stand, and more than half of those in attendance did.

"Look who you are," the bishop said, drawing from the readings. "Look who we are as church – we are pastors, ministers, and lay leaders who not only have taken our places in the faith community, but also have taken places in the history of this county.

"We are the church, the living stones, called to witness the life of Jesus Christ. You have been beacons of hope, and you have touched the children of this community with your faith.

"Be the Body of Christ," the bishop encouraged the congregation. He described Mary, whose assumption into heaven is celebrated in the parish church, "the model of the church in prayer. "Our prayers as a community reflect the synagogue worship service."

Urging the congregation to go on loving God and neighbor, Bishop Wester said to love only God and not your neighbor is delusional; to love only your neighbor and not God is self-centred. "The church is all of us together. It is neighbors forgiving. It is all of us made in the image and likeness of God."

Parish Pastor Msgr. Robert Bussen and his anniversary committee surrounded those who attended the Mass and dinner with reminders of this faith community and this particular church. Each person was given a copy of "The First Century: St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church," a 1977 book written by Raye C. Ringholz, and matted watercolors of the new church. In a tribute to the generosity and dedication of the parish members, each person was also given a copy of "Building St. Mary’s Church: 1991-1997, A History," compiled by Bob Majka. The booklet relates a concise history of building the new church, from the formation of the Future Planning Committee headed by Ron Crosby, through stewardship drives, needs surveys, the construction process, and finally, the church’s dedication.

At the dinner following the Mass, a continuously running slide show reminded people of the high points of the new church’s short history: that the church’s first visitor was a mountain lion and that the church immediately became the setting for marking the parish’s joyful and sorrowful ceremonies.

Now this church, like the first St. Mary of the Assumption chapel that still stands in Park City, is the source of many of memories of Park City Catholics.