Fr. Matthew O. Wixted retires after 46 years in Utah

Intermountain Catholic

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Members of the parish's Catholic Woman's League present Fr. Wixted with a check toward his California trip, which he will make with his sister and his sister-in-law. IC photo by Barbara S. Lee

TOOELE— Food and fun were the orders of the evening July 29 as St. Marguerite Parish celebrated the retirement of Father Matthew O. Wixted, their pastor for 12 years.

The party was an informal one, with representatives of the Tooele City Council and Dugway Proving Ground in attendance. Bruce Cummings welcomed everyone in, and Capt. Slade, from Dugway, presented Fr. Wixted with a plaque honoring him for his service on behalf of the men and women there.

"God sees some of the greatest efforts from people who serve in the smallest places," Capt. Slade said. "What Fr. Wixted has done for the soldiers at Dugway has had a profound effect."

Fr. Wixted also received a plaque from Chaplain Roggia, also from Dugway.

Fr. Wixted, a native of Thurles in County Tipperary, Ireland, was ordained for the Diocese of Salt Lake City June 10, 1962, in Ireland. In his 46 years of priesthood he has served in Ogden, Copperton, Price, Salt Lake City, Moab, Richfield, and Midvale. Before being assigned to St. Marguerite Parish, Tooele, he served for 12 years at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Midvale.

His parishioners took advantage of Fr. Wixted’s sense of humor at the party. Jim McManaman said Fr. taught them patience by living up to his motto: "They can’t start without me." He kidded Fr. Wixted about missing finance meetings, and presented him with a golf trophy.

"Fr. Matt always had the interest of people at heart, and we knew we came first with him," McManaman said.

Joe Ortega recalled the time when Fr. Wixted went to Las Vegas in his car, but returned on an airplane because his car was totaled in Las Vegas.

"We wanted to get you your dream car," Ortega said. "We know for a time your dream car was a Mercedes Benz, but we couldn’t find one of those. We we so happy when you decided your dream car was a Jaguar, because we knew we could find one of those."

Ortega helped Fr. Wixted open a shoe-box sized package. In it was a shoe-box sized Jaguar. Fr. Wixted responded with his characteristic laugh.

Fr. Wixted has planned a trip to California, on which he will be accompanied by his sister, Presentation Sister Mary Wixted and their sister-in-law Maire Wixted, both of whom attended his retirement party.

Members of St. Marguerite Parish’s Catholic Woman’s League presented Fr. Wixted with a check toward his trip.

"As I move on from here," Fr. Wixted said, "I will always think of St. Marguerite Parish as my home.

"This parish has a strong concern for the entire community of Tooele. I am deeply grateful to all of you because you are the church," he said. "Many of you have taken leadership roles in the parish and in the school, and it has always been very meaningful when we came together to celebrate the Eucharist. You are one of the great gifts of my priesthood and I will miss you."