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Show A community newspaper serving residents and businesses on the west side of Salt Lake City Issue No. 13 OCTOBER 2004 People of Many Faiths Plant Trees for Peace By Charlotte Fife-Jepperson In a time of war and global chaos, a diverse group of people demonstrated their commitment and hope for peace by gathering in Jordan Park on Salt Lake City’s West Side to plant a grove of 11 Giant Sequoia trees. Organized by TreeUtah, the Sept. 21 event was a combination of their volunteer apprecia- tion celebration with this year’s International Day of Peace, which was celebrated in 98 countries: last «year... There couldn’t have been a more fitting place to celebrate both occasions than the beautiful International Peace Gardens in Jordan Park. TreeUtah is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for present and future Utahns through tree planting, stewardship, and education. They rely on volunteers for their tree plantings, and = aspire’ to strengthen surrounding com- munities in the process. TreeUtah wanted to thank the many volunteers who have helped them plant over 250,000 trees. in “Utah - since: 1990. TreeUtah’s tree planting coordinator, Vaughn Lovejoy, suggested getting interfaith representatives together to help celebrate, and leaders from many different faiths and cultural groups in Salt Lake City were invited. Representatives from the Buddhist, LDS, Quaker, Catholic, Jewish, Episcopalian, Unitarian, Muslim, Baha’i, and Native American religious organizations participated in the tree planting. Representatives from the state Hispanic and Asian cultural offices were also in attendance. Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Native Americans and agnostics, alike, worked side by side that crisp afternoon to plant the grove of young sequoia trees, purchased in part See Peace on page 2 Representatives from many different religious faiths gathered around a Giant Sequoia tree that they helped plant in a grassy area next to Jordan Park’s International Peace Gardens. Photo courtesy of TreeUtah Church Provides Comfortable Haven for West Side Parishioners St. Patr 1ck’ By Kyle LaMalfa Sillitoe It’s Sunday morning at St. Patrick’s Church and every pew is filled. A smiling 3-year old girl with corn-rowed hair and a red and white taffeta dress bounces between her mother and sister. Well-scrubbed kids of different ages poke each other into giggly quiet. At the prompt of a Korean woman, the singing Starts. There isn’t room for an organ in the small church, but the music swells just the same. Light streams through the stained glass window, donated by Itahan and Irish .- families decades ago in memory of their loved ones. At the front of the Church, Father David Bittmenn smiles at his congregation. The 115-year history of the St. Patrick parish continues to build character on the West Side. The current pastor of St. Patrick’s takes pride in its diversity. “[People have] a variety of backgrounds and a willingness to help. People take ownership of Father Bittmenn said proudly. Ethnic diversity has always had a home at the St. Patrick parish. In 1889, Irish railroad workers built a church where an I-15 overpass stands today Later, during the early part of and Melissa our church,” the 20th century, the first church burned down and a second one was built. Italian Catholics then became the predominant part of the church’s membership. During the 1920's, the first Hispanic members were welcomed to the church and created the Our Lady of Guadalupe mission. Presently, church membership includes people from every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Rev. Bittmenn is most impressed that all the groups get along. Impressed but not surprised, “there is an expectation of diversity among the groups,” St Patrick’s Church at 1040 West 400 South is a familar and Photo by soothing sight on Salt Lake City’s West Side. Charlotte Fife-Jepperson said Rev. Bittmenn. He also acknowledges that people of this neighborhood demonstrate heartfelt respect for one another. Having transferred from the Sugarhouse parish two years ago, Rev. Bittmenn recognizes that this neighborhood contains more working-class people and he enjoys the more casual atmosphere. Ellen Colonno agrees, She has been a member of St. Patrick’s Church for 41 years and has raised her own family in it and participated in many of the activities including most recently, the Altar Society. Her sister-in-law, Catherine Hyde, has been a member of this parish since birth. Both women still live “in Poplar: Grove, although there are families who have left the geographic restrictions of the Parish and still attend. Hyde has attended other churches in the valley and notices a different spirit at her own church. "Theres more heart here. How can you not feel you’re amongst the people of God - you get to see how well all these different people mingle and get along.” There are many ways to get involved at the church includSee Church on page 2 j | | } ' ' } |
