This 'Pilgrimage Stop' is only about 40 minutes north of the Orem/Provo area. It is not far from the I-15 and I-80 intersection. Sacred Heart Church, which shows a dated sign on the building of 1952, feels like it was built in the early 1900's. I am fond of the vintage, antique and look of yester-year. This church is just as it should be, classic and timeless. Let me explain myself. As you enter the church you come into a small foyer where people meet and information is located. Once inside the church I immediately noticed the side walls with many antique stained glass windows of Holy Brothers, Sisters, Fathers, etc. Straight in front is an elegant altar with
Do you know the song, "Sounds of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel? Well, the "Our Father" was sung in Spanish to that tune, and it worked! As a matter of fact, it worked so well that it wouldn't get out of my head for many hours. I should probably mention that the mass was also in Spanish. Being married into the Spanish language, I knew many words, but my years of Catholicism helped more than anything else. If you do not speak another language, please don't let that keep you from attending mass celebrated in an unknown language. It is an experience and there is more to mass than knowing how to say the parts in a different language, for you can use your own and feel the Holy Spirit in your heart. The Catholic Church is universal and you are in God's grace and home.
The vibrant sermon for Pentecost Sunday was about the Holy Spirit. Father Yarce said that the Holy Spirit is what gets us to church. We don't go by our own will, the Holy Spirit moves us to participate. If you do not go to church and are a passive Catholic, then it is because you have a lack of the Holy Spirit in you. Luke 12:12 - the Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour what you ought to say. He (the Holy Spirit) teaches the faithful. Hebrews 10:15-17, And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more."
After mass, I was able to speak to Father Eugenio Yarce. who recently had his 20 year Anniversary of Ordination. He seems to be very in-tuned with his parishioners and they with him. I asked Fr. Yarce, "What do you think makes your parish special?" He was very eager to answer, and said, "I feel that the people of this parish make it special. You can feel the Holy Spirit flow through them and it is beautiful to be a part of that."
I thank the parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Salt Lake City for welcoming us and for all the smiles we received. I also thank Father Eugenio Yarce for taking time to speak with me. May God always bestow blessings upon your parish.