St. Joseph Parish in Monticello breaks ground for new church

Friday, Jun. 27, 2014

MONTICELLO — Saint Joseph Catholic Church, an historic landmark in Monticello, will be demolished in July. In its place will be a parking lot; a new church and hall will be built in the adjacent lot to accommodate the growth of the community. 

A groundbreaking ceremony followed the June 21 noon Mass, which was celebrated by Father William Wheaton, pastor. Deacon Tom Corrao assisted at the altar. In the mission territory of southeastern Utah, Fr. Wheaton also is pastor of Saint Pius X Parish in Moab, the missions of Saint Michael the Archangel in Green River, Sacred Heart in La Sal and Four Corners Nursing Home in Blanding.

The June 21 Mass not only celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi but also a new chapter in the life of the parish, said Fr. Wheaton. “St. Joseph Church has been here for 80 years, so this is a bittersweet time, as there have been many baptisms, weddings and funerals celebrated here. It is also a time of joy as we build a new church; this church is showing signs of wear, especially the roof.”

The history of a Catholic church is important, but what makes a community of faith is that “we believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist,” said Fr. Wheaton in his homily. 

Among the parishioners attending the groundbreaking were leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Mike Redd, Blanding Stake President and Scott Boyle, Monticello Stake President. 

Redd said the Catholic community has supported the LDS community’s building dedications, and they also work together on interfaith service projects. “It’s nice to be able to wish them well and continue our good working relationship,” he said. 

The existing St. Joseph church is inconvenient for many, Fr. Wheaton said.

“I think more people would come to church if it wasn’t difficult to find a seat, or too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer,” he said. “As we build the church bigger, we will be able to welcome and accommodate more people. They’ve all had their turn standing in the aisles or outside as far as the sidewalk during a funeral, First Communion or other celebration because the church only seats about 70 and we can’t accommodate the overflow.” 

Kathie and Allen Lund, who have a ranch in Blanding and started a vacation Bible school in the parish in 2006, have made a commitment to help with the funding of the new church.

“This project is about all of us and our time, talents and treasures, and most of all prayer,” said Allen Lund. “The new church will have air conditioning and heat, and will be a modern up-to-date building; it should be built in less than a year.” 

The new church is to “continue to keep the faith alive that the dozens of priests, nuns, and volunteers brought to us in the early 1900s,” said Deacon Corrao. “Bringing Catholicism to Monticello was a tough assignment; what we have now is a legacy to that effort. The church today contains the same vision that began in 1934 when Thomas Evans laid the first stones – a solid faith for future generations of Catholics in Monticello.”

The religious education students and staff are looking forward to the new hall because currently their classrooms are in a small trailer, said Jeri Montella, St. Joseph director of religious education. 

“Sometimes when the wind blows, it’s hard to hear, it’s an oven in the summer and too cold in the winter,” she said. “With dividers between the classrooms, it’s really not conducive for learning. When we move the kids over to the church, we’ve got first grade to junior high all in one room and we struggle to teach them in the cramped space. The new church will give our kids something to be proud of; something they can share with the community. I also think having more space will draw in more families.” 

The St. Joseph community is generally made up of farmers and ranchers – an “old country lifestyle, and is mostly Hispanic,” said Deacon Corrao. “We rely heavily on each other and value each other’s friendship; there are a lot of related families in this parish.”

The parish has 60 registered families.

When planning for a new church began three years ago, thought was given to remodeling the existing building, but there would have been no room for expansion, said Steve Francom, the general contractor for the project. 

The new church, which will seat about 120 people, will retain the existing building’s traditional cathedral style with the overhead view shape of a cross and the bell tower. It will have some cathedral windows and arches, Francom said.