August 2004 - Father Michael Winterer
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"In the winter we go over the mountains and through the snow," Fr. Winterer says. "You need the four-wheel drive to get to where you are going to say Mass."
The Diocese of Salt Lake City spans Utah's 84,990 square miles. Outside of the greater Salt Lake City area, less than 1 percent of the population is Catholic. Tiny Catholic mission parishes are spread out over the state, but life for the small number of Catholics here is difficult. Many leave the Catholic Church due to the lack of Catholic community and support in areas where the Church of Latter-Day Saints presence predominates. Catholics here depend upon missionaries like Fr. Winterer who go to great lengths - and miles - to help them maintain their faith.
"People in these remote areas feel so alone out here, especially with the overwhelming Mormon presence," Fr. Winterer says. "I think a priest can help them realize, the Catholic Church is right here, and you are just as much a part of it, and just as important, and just as loved, just as in any other place. Because they are in an area where they are in the minority, it is very easy to acquire a minority complex. The presence of a priest or sister can counter that and make them realize...you are loved in God's eyes and you are a Catholic."
Father Winterer celebrates Mass every weekend at a number of churches and missions. A typical weekend could have him driving about 250 miles to celebrate Mass in four to five different locations- and that doesn't include the bi-monthly Monday Masses at the Escalante mission 140 miles from Cedar City.
It's a demanding schedule. And that's just Mass. He's constantly on the road to administer the Sacraments and visit the sick. He also provides instruction for participants in the RCIA program. To sustain the Catholic life here, Father Winterer must travel these great distances week after week, oftentimes in blizzard-like conditions. Many times he has swerved off the road and landed in a ditch. Fortunately, his car has four-wheel drive and he can usually make it out. The few times he has gotten stuck, he's ended up waiting hours for someone in a truck or a snowplow to pull him out.
"He's the perfect priest for this area. Not many priests can do what he does," says Joe Martone, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus for Cedar City.
Serving Catholics few and far between with limited resources forced Father to get resourceful. Often he would use the back of his four-wheel drive as an altar for outdoor Masses for Catholics in Beryl Junction. With help from Catholic Extension, the mission parish was able to purchase a former restaurant, which it converted into a church. Still the needs are great in this mission and the others. An outdoor statue of St. Paul tops the wish list for one of his missions and, of course, "We always need operational expenses," he says.
Fr. Winterer has no complaints about his demanding schedule that keeps him on the go and is grateful to Catholic Extension donors for enabling his moving ministry.
"Catholic Extension keeps us on the move, which is really great. I plan to be on the road for quite awhile. People in my diocese are really indebted to Catholic Extension for its tremendous help. It's so encouraging for these Catholics to know that there are people who are willing to help with the work of sharing the Catholic faith...to be a part with their prayers and their finances. It's a tremendous act of faith and dedication to be willing to help with a ministry you don't even see."
To learn more about helping a sacrificing missionary like Fr. Winterer, please click here: Mission Partner