Bishop Wester dedicates Blessed Sacrament Parish Center

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester (center) blesses the newly remodeled Blessed Sacrament Parish Center assisted by Monsignor Robert Servatius, pastor, and Deacon Marcel Soklaski (left). IC photo/Christine Young

SANDY — The Blessed Sacrament Parish Center was completed after months of remodeling projects and was dedicated following a Mass Oct. 9. The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, concelebrated the Mass with Monsignor Robert Servatius, pastor, before blessing the center. Deacon Marcel Soklaski assisted at the altar.

"The work we bless today enlivens our faith," said Bishop Wester. "Keep in mind that we pray today for all those who will enter these doors to use these offices for the many years and decades to come. We ask God to bless them that they will find here the dwelling place of the Lord."

The remodeling project of the Parish Center began in June after Sharon Jackson, Blessed Sacrament pastoral associate, contemplated how the renovation could be accomplished. For six years, the main parish office had served a dual purpose for the administrative and religious education offices.

"Two ministries sharing one space," said Jackson. "We made it work because we needed to support the size of our religious education classes and Blessed Sacrament School needed to hold classes in the parish center."

After the school remodeled and added the Center for Science and Arts, they no longer needed the space in the parish center, she said.

"I approached Msgr. Bob and with a little coaxing and discussion from the staff, we came up with a plan," said Jackson, adding that it required giving her husband, John, a very long ‘honey-do’ list.

The project began with Sharon Jackson asking Phil Hoffstetter, a licensed contractor, "to do what seemed like a simple task – to build a wall between rooms 3a and b," said John Jackson. "But one thing led to another, and I was knee deep in renovation projects. It included closet and counter demolition, wallpaper removal, wall prep and painting, desk building, tiling, carpet removal, data communications, shelf hanging, and I’m sure there is still a task lurking. At first I felt a little apprehensive, but after a few weeks into it, I felt God’s presence guiding us in what had to be done. Parishioners started stepping up to use their talents to contribute in some way."

Corky Wilson, a retired electrician and parishioner who volunteers to do a lot of work at the parish, "guided me through this project," said Sharon Jackson. "We had another parishioner offer us almost-new furniture from his law office for a song. The cabinets were installed at no charge, and things like that kept happening."

The initial plan was to generate more funds as the project progressed.

"That never happened," said Sharon Jackson. "Our budget consisted of the initial dedicated funds. So we made do with stewardship: time, talent and treasure."

"Without the dedicated donors, those who gave their free time and prayers and the talented people in the parish, it wouldn’t have become a reality," said John Jackson. "People started coming out of the woodwork to volunteer to help."

‘We even had somebody come forward who could refinish the chairs in Monsignor’s office," said Sharon Jackson. "They look new."

"It was stewardship and all the volunteers that helped us grow as a parish and have fun while accomplishing a job that could have cost in excess of $50,000, that ended up costing less than half that amount," said John Jackson.