Holladay's interfaith Thanksgiving service to be celebrated at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

Friday, Nov. 13, 2015

HOLLADAY —   For 16 years the Annual City of Holladay Thanksgiving Interfaith Service has been inviting the community to participate in a service that has attracted as many as 1,200 persons.

The service was begun in 1999 by the Holladay Interfaith Council chairman, Jim Kastanis, who encouraged people from all religions to participate. The venue for this event rotates each year among different faiths in the community. This year, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church will host the interfaith Thanksgiving service on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” said Joyce Benda, a St. Vincent de Paul parishioner and Interfaith Council member. “We as a group of interfaith committee have grown very, very close, and it just proves that if you get to know one another better, then religion doesn’t stand in the way of friendships and relationships. We have … found that to be true, and I think spreading that into the community just helps people to get along better.”

This year, Kevin A. Mitchell, who holds an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Brigham Young University and an MBA  from the Darden Graduate School of Business in Virginia, will be the main speaker at the interfaith service.

 Mitchell also worked in counterterrorism for the U.S. Department of Defense, and now is the chief operating officer of a nanotechnology startup in Salt Lake City. He was honored as one of “Utah’s 40 most promising professionals under the age of 40.” 

Rocky Mountain Strings, co-directed by Ramona Stirling and Deborah Moench, will present a variety of music at the service. The group has toured Europe twice, and recently returned from a concert tour in Russia, Estonia and Latvia.

For the interfaith service, “the theme has always been related to Thanksgiving and what we are thankful for,” Benda said.

The Interfaith Council is comprised of representatives of various religions, including Catholics and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Greek Orthodox Church,  as well as people from various congregations such as  the Holladay United Church of Christ, Congregation Kol Ami, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Cottonwood Presbyterian Church, the Utah Islamic Center and the First Congregational Church.

“We meet on a regular basis for bi-monthly discussions and to share information with one another for the common good and benefit of the community,” said Benda.

The Nov. 22 worship service will be followed by fellowship and a variety of light refreshments. Participants are invited to bring canned goods that will be donated to the Utah Food Bank.

 

WHAT: Thanksgiving Interfaith service

WHEN:  Nov. 22, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1385 E. Spring Lane., SLC

Free and open to the public