Saint Thomas More Catholics offer worship space to the Greek Orthodox Mission Parish

Friday, Jun. 19, 2015

SANDY — Saint Thomas More Parish has welcomed the 130 families of the Greek Orthodox Mission Parish of Utah as their new neighbors, allowing them worship space in the church’s west wing.

What was once used as a warehouse is now adorned with Orthodox icons and used for Divine Liturgy; a space for lectures has become a social hall, and the religious education classrooms will be shared among the two groups. 

“May God’s blessing be upon each and every one of us as we grow together,” said Father John Evans, St. Thomas More pastor, during an open house June 14. “For the past 50 years, the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox churches have worked for greater unity. [The Greek Orthodox Mission] now has a dedicated space with a parish environment, which benefits them and benefits us; but it’s just the right thing to do to help them.”

When St. Thomas More Parish was formed, they held services at a mortuary before the church was built, so they understand what “it is like to be nomadic,” said Fr. Evans. “It’s difficult not having stability. We are so happy to welcome them as they raise money for their church.” 

Fr. Evans, on behalf of the St. Thomas More parishioners, presented the Greek Orthodox parishioners with a photograph of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew blessing Pope Francis when he attended the Solemn Orthodox prayer service at Saint George in Istanbul, Turkey in 2014, a plaque with a quote by Saint John Paul II and a welcome statement: “May we together always give glory to God.” 

Rev. Father Ambrose Omayas and the Greek Orthodox Mission presented Saint Thomas More Parish with an Orthodox icon of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew to express “our deep appreciation of the Christian love and hospitality shown to us by the clergy, parishioners and employees of St. Thomas More. God has truly blessed us with the opportunity to share your beautiful campus and to develop a positive relationship between our parishes.” 

The icon has special significance in that Sts. Peter and Andrew, who are shown embracing, are the founders of the Church of Rome and the Church in Constantinople, respectively. 

The gifts and plaques will hang in the entrance of the churches’ common area.

“It is your prayers, your fellowship, your brotherhood … We share the same Jesus, the same apostolic faith,” Fr. Ambrose said. “Thanks to Pope Paul VI and the Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem in 1964, the doors and the excommunication between the two churches was lifted through dialog. … Salt Lake City is the first beacon of what Pope Francis has asked, ‘that we come together as one family; that we share together.’ My bishop is coming out in July and he is totally happy, he is totally amazed. It makes me feel welcome, it makes me feel whole and totally happy.”