Central Utah parishes increase faith formation

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MILFORD — A little more than three months ago, Fr. Marco Tulio Lopez received the appointment as administrator of St. Bridget Parish in Milford, along with its associated missions of St. John Bosco in Delta and Holy Family in Fillmore.

The central Utah area is not unfamiliar to Fr. Lopez, as he used to visit and minister in the area many years ago.

“I am really impressed with the positive attitudes of these communities,” he said. “People here are really interested in participating, and give as much as they can.”

Once, for example, a family in Fillmore asked where he planned to sleep if a snowstorm hit and he couldn’t drive the 50 miles back to Milford, where the rectory is located.

Holy Family Mission’s furniture is limited to chairs and pews, so Fr. Lopez answered that he would sleep there on the floor.

In response, the parishioners bought a sofa bed, which they donated to the mission. Another family donated a stove, refrigerator and a whole new kitchen, too.

“Eleven years ago when I visited the mission, two of the stove burners were not working,” and when he arrived at the mission, they still weren’t, Fr. Lopez said.

In his pastoral response to the community’s generosity, Fr. Tulio asked parishioners if they would like to form pastoral councils in each place so they could evaluate the needs and decide the best route for the individual communities. The members of the community agreed and pastoral councils were formed.

As part of the practice of the faith, parishioners have found ways to start catechism classes in each community. Also, a Bible study has been taking place, as has training for musicians.

“All the community members have been very interested and participating,” Fr. Lopez said.

In addition, an Advent retreat has been scheduled for Nov. 30. It will be held virtually and conducted in Spanish, but is open to all.

Regarding these efforts, Fr. Lopez said, “The people of God and the Church are hand by hand, working together with God’s grace.”

Another event that the community is planning is a dedication of a room at St. Bridget Catholic Church to honor the life and legacy of Fr. Joseph Valine, OP, who was known as “the donut priest.”

Fr. Valine served for 40 years and built the church in Milford; he used to go to Panguitch and Bryce Canyon, as well.

“People have expressed how much they loved him and are very grateful to him, so we decided to collect some of his items, and we will be displaying them in this special room in the rectory,” Fr. Lopez said.

In response to his parishioners’ needs, “what I have been doing is being present for them as much as possible,” the priest said. “Every week I spend a day or two in each community.”

Thursdays he is in Fillmore for a Holy Hour and for Mass, then on Friday he drives the 50 miles to Beaver for a Holy Hour and Mass. From there he goes to Delta, which is another 85 miles.

“I found that there was just one bilingual Mass on Sundays, so now at 8 a.m. we celebrate a Spanish Mass and at 10 a.m. one Mass in English,” Fr. Lopez said.

In the afternoon that same day, he returns to Fillmore for a Mass at 4 p.m.

In central Utah, Catholics are showing the convictions of their faith, not just fulfilling their obligation or following tradition, he said. “Little by little Catholics in this part of the state are proving that to be true.”