Utah's Catholics unite in tradition at Lagoon

Intermountain Catholic

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Catholics from throughout the Diocese of Salt Lake City receive communion from Oblate Father James McHugh, Knights of Columbus state chaplain. Mass was celebrated in the Lagoon's Canyon Terrace. Catholic Day at Lagoon is held to bring families from throughout the diocese together.IC photos by Christine Young

FARMINGTON — Catholics numbering 5,573 from throughout the Diocese of Salt Lake City gathered for the traditional Catholic Day at Lagoon July 8. Knights of Columbus Council 602 sponsored the 99th annual state-wide event to bring Catholic families together.

"People who used to come with their parents and grandparents are now bringing their children and grandchildren," said Jeff Itami, grand knight of Council 602.

"Our council is the oldest council west of the Rocky Mountains," said Itami. "Council 602 began in 1901, and we started celebrating Catholic Day at Lagoon in 1908."

Filomena Fay Lee from Castle Dale, a member of San Rafael Mission in central Utah, remembers coming to Lagoon on Catholic Day with her family when she was young. She grew up in Helper where her father, Tony Ori, was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus from St. Anthony of Padua Parish. Lee and her fiancé’s family spent the day with her cousins Theresa and William Wheeler, who are members of St. Ann Parish, Salt Lake City. They look forward to this event every year.

Olivia Hernandez from St. Henry Parish in Brigham City brought her family of 12 including her children and grandchildren. She has been coming for at least the past 12 years.

Families selected a place for their picnic lunches and prepared for Mass in the Canyon Terrace pavilion, which provided shade from the sun and the outside temperature of 99 degrees.

The outdoor Mass was celebrated by Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father James McHugh. Fr. McHugh is the Knight of Columbus state chaplain and a science and chemistry teacher at Judge Memorial Catholic High School. The Mass intention was for the late Oblate Father Richard Blenner, former state chaplain, who died 10 years ago in 1997.

Rudy Roca, Council 602 advocate and a member of the Cathedral of the Madeleine Parish, brought his family and their traditional Filipino food. His granddaughter, Caera Roca Navales, sang the communion hymn, "Ave Maria."

"This is our main fund raiser," said Vincent Lopez, a Knight of Columbus Council 602 trustee. "Today’s proceeds will be used to cover pro-life activities, funding for the Carmelite Monastery in Holladay, our annual clergy appreciation dinner, and to help our brother knights who are veterans of foreign wars. The Mass collection will be given to Bishop John C. Wester of the Diocese of Salt Lake City for his pro-life fund.

"Lagoon representatives are happy to host us because we bring in so many," said Itami. "They give us complementary stuffed animals, free entrance into Lagoon, and a discount on Lagoon ride passes."