Christ the King parishioners in Cedar City celebrate 10 years in their new church

Intermountain Catholic

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Monsignor Robert Bussen celebrates the anniversary Mass at Christ the King Parish on Nov. 24. The pews are decorated with artwork from the religious education class children. IC photo/Marie Mischel

CEDAR CITY — The pomp and circumstance at Christ the King Parish on their patronal feast day was greater this year, as Nov. 24 marked not only the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, but also their 10th year in their existing church.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, sent a letter congratulating the parish. The bishop was unable to attend their celebration because he was the principal celebrant of the Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine that day, marking not only the feast day but also the end of the Year of Faith.

In his letter, the bishop remarked that the parish had "every reason to celebrate. It is truly an inspiration to recall the history of Christ the King Parish, and marvel at the sacrifice and dedication of the pastors, religious and parishioners."

The bishop continued, "Christ the King Parish is and continues to be a symbol of the Lord’s presence in his people and the ongoing mission of his church. We have reaped an abundant harvest because of the labor of those who have gone before us, and those today who continue to do the Lord’s will."

Some of those same sentiments were echoed in a letter from Monsignor Michael Winterer, was pastor from 1996 to 2011.

Msgr. Winterer was unable to attend because he was committed to ministering at another parish. He offered congratulations to "one of the most beautiful churches in our diocese. … but the most beautiful church in Cedar City is not made of wood and painted stones, the most beautiful one is all of you, for whom the stone one serves. And with all of you I am very grateful to God for his continuing love and care, and I certainly wish that I could be there to celebrate with you. ... Know that you are loved."

The existing church was dedicated on the Feast of Christ the King in 2003; it is the third church for the parish. The original church was a renovated house; another church was built in 1990, but the area’s rapid population growth required that the parish sell that building and construct the existing church.

Monsignor Robert J. Bussen, the parish’s current pastor, said in his homily that he sees the extraordinary grace of God at work in his parishioners.

"It’s not just your incredible generosity. You’ve proven again and again what it means to sacrifice, not just for the church but for the larger world … It’s the time you spend at the thrift store volunteering, the support you give to our youth, the time you take to teach our children. Whatever I ask, you don’t tell me ‘no,’ you only ask ‘How can I help?’"

At the reception after the Mass, parishioners shared their memories of the parish. Among them was Cindy Davidson, who first moved to Cedar City in 1969.

"It has been a wonderful experience," said Davidson, who has been involved with many ministries, from serving as the director of religious education to the Saint Martha’s Baby Project. Her oldest children were baptized in the "little green house," her middle children were confirmed in the "new" church and her youngest was confirmed in the current church. "Our parish has always been a wonderful warm family. It really has," she said.

In his comments at the reception, Deacon Dennis Davies recalled the dedication ceremony 10 years ago, when then-Bishop George Niederauer anointed the altar and the church pillars.

That was symbolic, Deacon Davies said; "the symbol was that he anointed us because we are the living stones. That happened 10 years ago, and here we are celebrating that, and knowing that as we go into the future you and I are called to be those living stones."

Likewise, Holy Cross Sister Yvonne Hatt, who moved to the parish in 1986, recalled the stones behind the altar. "Some are big, some are little, some are dark, some are light, some are jagged, and I was thinking that our parish is the same – that we all blend together and work together and we know each other. … We watch out for each other. We’re bigger than we were, but we’re still a small parish and we care a lot about each other and we want to keep that spirit and keep on being those stable rocks that are behind the altar."