New CCS administration building blessed

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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Bishop Oscar A. Solis presides at the Aug. 15 Mass at the new Catholic Community Services of Utah building in Salt Lake City. Many of the CCS staff members attended the Mass.

SALT LAKE CITY — On Aug. 15 Catholic Community Services of Utah celebrated its new building with a Mass and blessing by Bishop Oscar A. Solis. The 20,000-square-foot building at 224 North 2200 West, which was purchased from Airport Park Salt Lake City, now houses CCS’ administration offices and its Migration and Refugee Services, including refugee resettlement, refugee foster care and immigration.

The move became necessary after the organization had outgrown its building and its parking on 700 East in Salt Lake City. Executive Director Brad Drake made one of the goals of his five-year plan to get those services recombined in one building, a goal he accomplished in two years.

“It’s just wonderful that we are all here together after being separate for eight years – administration and refugee resettlement,” Drake said. “Now that we’re combined, we’re unified even more.”

At the Mass to mark the occasion, Bishop Solis praised the work of CCS. “This is a day of joy and gratitude. At CCS, you are a symbol and beacon of hope and goodness, that there is still good in humanity,” he said.

Concelebrants at the Mass were Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general; Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus; and various priests of the diocese. Deacon of the Mass was Deacon George Reade, assisted by Deacon Dale Dillon.

“I am truly delighted and happy and excited to be here today to celebrate this Mass in this building of the Catholic Community Services, “Bishop Solis said in his homily. “It speaks more than what we see here, the beautiful manifestation of our unity and solidarity, irrespective of who we are, what country you came from, what language you speak, what faith you profess. What a beautiful thing to understand, the mutual respect and understanding and our solidarity as a community.”

“We come here today not only to dedicate a new building but we want to ask the blessing of God that this place will abound with so much grace that will touch the lives of many people, especially those who are in need, those who need the love and compassion that other people cannot give to them; to lift them up in their dignity, that they be recognized as one of us, one like us, a brother and sister, that we are all one family,” the bishop said. “We share the same conviction and we share the same hope.”

Several CCS board members, staffers and community activist Pamela Atkinson joined Bishop Solis at the celebration.

“I think it’s very exciting to have the people working in CCS coming together all in one place,” said Atkinson, who has worked with CCS on many projects and often does the “ask” at the organization’s annual fundraising dinner. “This is very inclusive of everybody. When walking in to this building I just feel it is very conducive to helping those in need.”

With proceeds from the sale of its old building, Catholic Community Services was able to buy the new building outright, Development Director Jose Lazaro said.

As a former office building, the new facility needed minimal renovation, he said.

Lazaro acknowledged the contributions of several individuals, including contractor Tom Stevens, Msgr. Fitzgerald, Msgr. Bircumshaw, Deacon Reade and attorney Matthew Wirthlin, along with Drake and Properties and Contract Compliance Director Rose Olivas.  

“We would like to thank Bishop Solis for his leadership and trust. He’s been very supportive through the entire process,” he said.

The organization’s homeless services offices will remain at 210 S. Rio Grande St. in Salt Lake City, with the St. Vincent de Paul dining hall and the Weigand Homeless Resource Center.