SGR Goes to Church

Don Pendleton did his best to keep track of members and visitors gathering in the vestibule of the St. George Catholic Church. In its second week of festivities in celebration of the church’s recent renovation / remodel, members of SGR enjoyed a tour lead by Catholic historian Lorraine Boyce. Rotarians viewed the rose window created by a dying church member, the stations of the cross, statuary including St. Jude, St. Francis of Assisi, St. George and the Virgin of Guadelupe above the podium. There was also a great deal of Catholic art work on display, as well as a list of contributors to the project.

The week’s events include a fundraising dinner with LDS Apostle M. Russell Ballard.

Interaction between Catholics and those of the LDS faith go back in history to the height of activity in the mines at Silver Reef, where the population explosion of those seeking fame and fortune, included Reverend Lawrence Scanlon.

According to “History of Washington County” by Dr. Karl Brooks and Dr. Douglas Alder, relations with the gentiles at Silver Reef were "cautious.” One well-known exception was a friendship which developed between John Menzies Macfarlane (who wrote the American hymn “Far Far Away on Judea’s Plain”) of St. George and Father Scanlon, the Catholic priest in Silver Reef. Both residents of the same boarding house, the two conversed at length and became friends - with a mutual problem. Father Scanlon wanted to celebrate high mass with a choir for his congregation, but his church was still unfinished and he had no choir. Macfarlane proposed the mass be held in the St. George LDS Tabernacle where he was the director of a 30-voice choir. The memorable event which included devout Catholics and curious Mormons was held May 25, 1879. Father Scanlon is reported to have started the mass by saying, “I think you are wrong and you think I am wrong, but this should not prevent us from treating each other with due consideration and respect.”

Following the tour, Rotarians dismissed to Kuzy Hall (named in honor of Father Paul Kuzy who lead the congregation for 13 years and was a member of St. George Rotary Club) for box lunches, drinks and the business portion of the meeting.

President Grant announced receipt of a district grant in the amount of $3000 in support of the dictionary project.

Dan Strobell announced another district grant in the amount of $8800 in support of the Guatemala stove project.

Announcements included Gil Trujillo noting Linda Sappington had underspent nearly $10,000 in preparation for the Utah Rotary District Conference in May. “Since the district doesn’t know what to do with extra funds, they have voted to give it to our club on the condition that it be spent on developing strong youth programs,” noted the former Utah Rotary District Governor.