Church-Hopping in Utah
  • Preface
  • Pilgrimage
  • Thoughts
  • Q & A's
  • Utah Catholics
  • Locations
  • Humor
  • E-mail Me

St. Gertrude 

5/19/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
May tends to start the traveling season in Utah with kids on vacation.  If you find yourself about twenty-five miles north of Bryce Canyon National Park on a Sunday, please stop and attend church.  Located in Panguitch, Utah is Saint Gertrude Catholic Mission ∙ 2 miles out of town on Panguitch Lake Road ∙ Panguitch UT 84759 ∙ Phone (435) 586-8298 ∙ Mailing Address: 690 South Cove Drive ∙ Cedar City, UT 84720.  St. Gertrude Mission is a part of Cedar City's parish, Christ the King. 

A “mission” is generally a small group of individuals who have formed a community that at some point would become a parish. Generally a mission is an offshoot of a “mother parish” or a completely new community which is started in an area where there had formerly been no Roman Catholic presence. does not have an assigned pastor of its own but has a priest visit with some regularity, sometimes even

weekly.  When the mission has grown sufficiently that it can support a priest of its own, it is usually elevated to the status of a “parish” or “church.”

As my pilgrim train pulled to a stop, the church was off to the left with ample parking spaces.  For some reason, it felt very quiet and peaceful in the surroundings and perfect for Pentecost Sunday. Between the sign by the street and the cross on top of the mission, it was easy to locate the building.  Because this is a mission, the clergy has to travel quite a ways to come and this church.  The parishioners recognize this as you can tell by the "Priest Parking Only" sign located in front of one of the spaces in the parking lot.  I am sure that the clergy appreciates the fact that they don't have to look for spaces and are respected. 

After entering through the two sets of double doors, I arrived in the reception room area, which doubles as the back of church.  The first item I noticed was the solid brass ornate Holy Water Font and have it pictured below.  (I will be calling the inside of the building a church and not mission, because I feel we go to 'church' and not 'mission'.  Perhaps it is wrong of me, but I am willing to deal with that.)  On with the virtual tour.  You enter in an area that is used for the reception after mass and directly to the left is the church portion.  The two areas can easily be separated by a partition curtain that is also pictured below.  There are two rows of pews and the altar is against the main wall.  Directly behind the wall is a beautiful wooden panel that forms an arrow that leads your eye up to the cross and then to heaven.  Directly to the left of the cross is the lecture podium and a lovely picture of Joseph.  To the right of the the altar is a beautiful carving of Mary with baby Jesus.   The Stations of the Cross line both the right and left sides of the church.  They have a simple cross, but with a detailed square ceramic tile that illustrates each station.  

Today's mass was a bit different because of the absence of a priest.  This type of service is called a Liturgy of Communion and Deacon Denny was the officiant.  Deacon Denny brought the Precious Body of our Lord having been reserved at Christ the King's Tabernacle prior to this service.  Father Bob was not present during this Pentecost Sunday service, but that did not detour from the spirituality at all.  One of the most amazing things I couldn't help but notice both before and after service, was the stewardship by the parishioners of this church.  There are more of these 'helpers/volunteers' by percentage than anywhere I have been to thus far.  Approximately seventy-five percent of the parishioners had an active roll while I was there.  This parish would not survive without help and neither would any other parish, but the percentage is amazing.  God has blessed them with a gift that keeps on giving.  The parishioners were also very friendly and hospitable to each other and the many visiting from out-of-town that day.   As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. - 1 Peter 4:10

I pray that Saint Gertrude Catholic Mission/Church and its parishioners continues to be blessed by God's graces.  Thank you to all for making this Church-Hopping Pilgrim feel very welcome and blessed.


Picture
Street sign for the church

Picture
A unique
cross I saw
on one of
the walls

Picture
The lecture podium and Joseph in the background

Picture
One of the Stations of
the Cross

Picture
A very handy sign, especially when the clergy has to travel.

Picture
The Altar

Picture
Beautiful carving
of Mary with Jesus

Picture
Curtains after mass close for receptions

Picture
A beautiful brass Holy Water Font located just inside the doors of church.

Picture
A close-up of the altar with Deacon Denny

Picture
Right side of church

Picture





One side of the Reception Hall

Picture
Directions: 
From town of Panguitch, turn on Panguitch Lake Road.  Pass East 795 Street and just before 980 South, the mission is on the left.  Just look for the bell tower.  If you get to 980 South, turn back and it's a matter of yards behind you, but it will now be on your right.

There is no physical address to look up so the little yellow man
(on the left) is facing the virtual mission on the map. 

4 Comments
Carol
8/21/2013 10:55:51 am

Thank you for this beautiful post. My husband and I will be in the area on vacation at the end of September. We are staying near Glendale. My husband and I will definitely attend. Thanks and God bless you.

Reply
Gracemarie Goette link
9/7/2013 04:27:48 pm

I feel blessed that you appreciated my post. I pray that your trip near Glendale is full of blessings, fun and a visit to St. Gertrude Mission.

Reply
Carol
9/20/2013 05:13:23 am

Gracemarie
Can you give me directions to the church. I know you said 2 miles from town but any other hints or help? Any street name or route. I am trying to find it on a map so I know where to go
Thanks so much!

Reply
Gracemarie
9/20/2013 05:58:02 am

I just posted a map and directions for you and everyone else visiting for the first time. I pray that this helps you.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Please click on the link above for up-to-date information.

    Archives

    November 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

    Categories

    All
    Abbey Of Our Lady Of The Holy Trinity
    Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
    Blessed Sacrament
    Carmelite Monastery
    Cathedral Of The Madeleine
    Christ Prince Of Peace
    Christ The King
    Duck Creek Chapel
    Four Corners Regional Care Center
    Good Shepherd
    Holy Family Church
    Holy Family Mission
    Holy Spirit
    Immaculate Conception
    La Sal
    Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum
    Notre Dame De Lourdes
    Our Lady Of Guadalupe
    Our Lady Of Lourdes - Magna
    Our Lady Of Lourdes - SLC
    Our Lady Of Perpetual Help
    Our Lady Of The Light
    Our Lady Of The Snows
    Prison Mass
    Sacred Heart - La Sal
    Sacred Heart - SLC
    San Andres
    San Felipe
    San Isidro
    San Juan Diego
    San Pablo
    San Rafael
    Santa Ana
    St. Ambrose
    St. Andrew
    St. Ann
    St. Anthony Of Padua
    St. Anthony Of The Desert
    St. Bridget
    St. Catherine Of Sienna
    St. Christopher's
    St. Dominic
    St. Elizabeth
    St. Florence
    St. Francis Of Assisi
    St. Francis Xavier
    St. George
    St. Gertrude
    St. Helen
    St. Henry
    St. James The Greater
    St. James The Just
    St. Jerome
    St. John Bosco
    St. John The Baptist
    St. Joseph - Monticello
    St. Joseph - Ogden
    St. Joseph's Villa
    St. Joseph The Worker
    St. Jude
    St. Jude Marionite
    St. Lawrence
    St. Marguerite
    St. Martin De Porres
    St. Mary
    St. Mary Of The Assumption
    St. Mary's
    St. Michael The Archangel
    St. Olaf
    St. Patrick - Eureka
    St. Patrick - SLC
    St. Paul
    St. Peter
    St. Pius X
    St. Rose Of Lima
    Sts. Peter And Paul
    St. Sylvester
    St. Therese Of The Little Child Jesus
    St. Thomas Aquinas
    St. Thomas More
    St. Vincent DePaul Parish
    W.S.U. - Newman Center
    Zion National Park

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.