New St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Church being readied for late June dedication

Don Fiesinger

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A photo by St. Thomas Aquinas Parishioner Don Fiesinger shows the brick exterior walls of the new St. Thomas Aquinas Church dusted with an early February snow. Phase One of the building project includes the church, offices, and classrooms. Dedication of the new church is set for late June.photo courtesy of Don Fiesinger

HYDE PARK — The sprawling parish complex taking shape outside Logan, with its classrooms, offices, and new church is like a dream come true for members of the northernmost parish in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

In 1941, Dominican Father Joseph Valine founded the parish in a rectory-chapel-hall building at 45 East 500 North.

Financed in part by the Catholic Church Extension Society, the parish originally served Catholics in Box Elder, Rich, and Cache Counties.

In 1947, Msgr. Jerome Stoffel was named the second pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Ten years later, he founded a Newman Center for Catholic students in the "castle," once a private home, then the Signa Nu Fraternity House at 569 East 700 North, across the street from the Utah State Agricultural College campus, now Utah State University. The castle underwent many reincarnations over the years, including the addition of St. Jerome’s Chapel, dedicated in 1960 by Bishop Joseph Lennox Federal.

In 1962, all parish functions were moved "up the hill" and the conjoined facility was officially named St. Thomas Aquinas Parish/Newman Center.

In 1977, Father (now Msgr.) Robert J. Bussen was named the parish’s third pastor, overseeing a growing parish and Newman Center, for which resourcefulness was vital if all parish and Newman Center activities were to take place in the facility’s limited space.

In 1986, Father Colin Bircumshaw was named pastor, and the need for a more spacious parish facility was evident.

The new church will seat 750, Pastor Father Clarence Sandoval told the Intermountain Catholic in a March 6 interview.

"Phase One’s estimated cost will be $3.4 million," Fr. Sandoval said. "We are still raising funds and accepting donations, and we are encouraging everyone, inside and outside the parish, to be very generous."

The complex will consist of eight religious education classrooms, as well as administrative offices.

Phase Two of the building project will include a rectory and a gymnasium/community center.

Fr. Sandoval said the parish now has 750 registered families, and a number of families that are not registered.

"We see about 1,000 people each weekend," he said.