UTAH CATHOLIC MISSIONARY WEEKS

UTAH CATHOLIC MISSIONARY WEEKS

Faithful to its missionary tradition, the parish of Saints Peter and Paul organizes every year in October the Utah Catholic Missionary Weeks (UCMW).  Since 2020, we are at the fourth edition of this important moment for our parish.

The first edition, held from October 17 to 24, 2021, had the theme “Witnesses of the Resurrected: Missionaries of Hope in Utah”. “Renewed by the Eucharist, witnesses of Christ in Utah” was the theme of the second edition, held from October 16 to 23, 2022. From October 15 to 22, 2023 We had organized the third edition of UCMW with the theme: “On the Footsteps of Silvestre Vélez de Escalante and Atanasio Domínguez: Burning Hearts, Open Eyes and Feet Ready for the Mission in Utah”. The fourth edition of the “Utah Catholic Missionary Weeks” was organized from October 13 to 20, 2024. Its theme was “For a synodal and missionary Church at the service of the Gospel in Utah.”

We want to respond to three calls. The first is that of Pope Francis, namely, to make the Catholic Church “a completely missionary and outgoing Church”. Secondly, we put into practice the invitation of our Bishops of the United States of America, namely, “Created Anew by the Body and Blood of Christ: Source of Our Healing and Hope”. After Covid-19, we are like the disciples of Emmaus who were without hope. The Christians of Saints Peter and Paul, nourished by the Eucharist and sustained by the Word of God, we want to be witnesses of hope here in West Valley City and in our Diocese of Salt Lake City. Finally, we walk faithfully with our Bishop Oscar A. Solis, who, since 2017, invites us to experience the “Springtime of the New Evangelization in Utah”.

So, following in the footsteps of the “Disciples of Emmaus” and those of Fathers Silvestre Vélez de Escalante and Atanasio Domínguez, with ardent hearts, open eyes and feet ready for the mission to Utah, our parish aims to be a welcoming, eucharistic, vibrant, missionary, green, and connected with our city of West Valley City.

During the Fourth Missionary Week, we proceeded with the opening of the Missionary Center Saints Peter and Paul in our parish and the Missionary Review “Duc in Altum” (MRDIA).

 Father Sébastien SASA, PhD, MPA

Administrator of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

West Valley City, UT