About St. Francis Xavier · Kearns, Utah
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Kearns, Utah, belonging to the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Founded in 1955 under the leadership of the local bishop, the parish was originally shepherded by Msgr. Mark O. Benvegnu and was rededicated on April 27, 1986. Today St. Francis Xavier serves a large Latino community alongside English-speaking parishioners, offering five weekend Masses (one in English on Saturday evening, two in English and three in Spanish on Sunday), an active Catholic elementary school, faith formation for children and adults, RCIA, and a wide array of parish ministries and devotional programs. It remains a vibrant, family-oriented faith community rooted in Eucharistic life and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Rogelio Felix-Rosas
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salt Lake City
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is a warm, bilingual Catholic family that welcomes newcomers with an unusually rich schedule of Masses in both English and Spanish, daily Eucharistic adoration, and a strong tradition of devotions including the Rosary before every Mass, Exposition of the Holy Sacrament, a monthly Holy Hour, and a weekly novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Families can grow in faith together through the parish's Catholic elementary school (preschool–8th grade), faith formation classes for First Communion and Confirmation, RCIA for adults, and a wide range of parish ministries — from Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, and Legion of Mary to St. Vincent de Paul outreach, refugee resettlement, marriage encounter, youth groups, and choirs — making it easy to find a place to serve and belong.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Wednesday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 11:30 AM – 5:45 PM (Exposition of the Holy Sacrament)
- Wednesday 11:30 AM – 5:45 PM (Exposition of the Holy Sacrament)
- Every Thursday 5:00 PM (Holy Hour)
About St. Francis Xavier Parish
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is a bilingual parish of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, located in Kearns, Utah, at 4501 West 5215 South. Founded in 1955 under the leadership of the local bishop, the parish was rededicated on April 27, 1986, and today serves both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Catholics of the Salt Lake Valley. The parish's motto, 'Spreading faith and love,' is carried out through daily and weekend Masses in two languages, faith formation for all ages, a Catholic elementary school, the Sacraments, and a wide variety of lay ministries and devotional groups.
- Parish motto: 'Spreading faith and love'
- Founded 1955; rededicated April 27, 1986
- Part of the Diocese of Salt Lake City
- Bilingual English/Spanish parish
History of the Parish
St. Francis Xavier was established in 1955 to minister to the growing Catholic population in the Kearns area of Salt Lake County. Its founding pastor, Msgr. Mark O. Benvegnu, shepherded the parish from 1955 until 1962, a period in which he also served as Catholic chaplain at the Utah State Penitentiary. The church was rededicated on April 27, 1986, reflecting the physical and communal growth of the parish over its first three decades. A parish school was added alongside the church and continues today as St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, serving students from preschool through 8th grade.
- 1955 – Parish founded under Bishop of Salt Lake City
- 1955–1962 – Msgr. Mark O. Benvegnu serves as founding pastor
- April 27, 1986 – Church rededicated
- St. Francis Xavier Catholic School operates on the same campus
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Rogelio Felix-Rosas, with Rev. Sebastian Chacko serving as Priest in Residence and Chaplain to the Samoan community, and Deacon Robert Cowlishaw assisting in ministry. The parish office is staffed by Office Manager / Faith Formation Coordinator Mrs. Jazmin Munoz (also Director of Safe Environment) and Faith Formation Coordinator Mrs. Francisca Holguin. Mr. V.J. Simonelli serves as Parish Maintenance Coordinator, Mrs. Iris Palacios is President of the Parish Council and oversees Finance and Accounting, and Mrs. Lynn Miller heads the Council of Catholic Women. An after-hours emergency line (801-613-0813) is available for urgent pastoral needs.
- Pastor: Rev. Rogelio Felix-Rosas
- Priest in Residence: Rev. Sebastian Chacko (also Chaplain to Samoans)
- Deacon: Robert Cowlishaw
- Office Manager / Faith Formation: Mrs. Jazmin Munoz (x121)
- Faith Formation: Mrs. Francisca Holguin and Jazmine Munoz (x122, [email protected])
- Director of Safe Environment: Ms. Jazmine Munoz
- Parish Maintenance Coordinator: Mr. V.J. Simonelli
- Parish Council President / Finance: Mrs. Iris Palacios (x114)
- Council of Catholic Women: Mrs. Lynn Miller
- Emergency Priest/Pastor line: 801-613-0813
Mass & Sacramental Schedule
St. Francis Xavier offers an unusually rich Mass schedule, with five weekend Masses in two languages and daily Masses Monday through Friday. English-speaking Catholics have a Saturday evening Mass and a Sunday morning Mass; the Spanish-speaking community gathers for Mass on Saturday evening and three times on Sunday morning and afternoon, with additional Spanish weekday evening Masses.
- Saturday 5:00 PM — English
- Saturday 6:30 PM — Spanish
- Sunday 7:30 AM — Spanish
- Sunday 9:30 AM — English
- Sunday 11:00 AM — Spanish
- Sunday 1:00 PM — Spanish
- Monday–Friday 11:00 AM English (Tuesday at 9:00 AM)
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 6:00 PM — Spanish
- Holy Days: 9:00 AM English and 6:00 PM Bilingual
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is at the heart of parish life at St. Francis Xavier. The parish offers CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) catechism classes for children preparing for First Communion and Confirmation, with a two-year cycle (e.g., 2024–2026). The Religious Education Office is open Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM when catechism is in session. Coordinators Mrs. Francisca Holguin and Jazmin Munoz can be reached at 801-968-2123, ext. 122 or [email protected].
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation (two-year cycle)
- Registration each March for the next cycle
- Religious Education Office hours: Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Contact: Mrs. Francisca Holguin and Jazmin Munoz — (801) 968-2123 x122 — [email protected]
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The parish runs the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), the ancient, restored-by-Vatican-II process for initiating new members into the Catholic Church. The RCIA journey moves through the Period of Inquiry (Pre-Catechumenate), the Rite of Initiation, the Catechumenate, the Rite of Election (with the bishop), reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation), and finally Mystagogy — a post-Easter time of reflection and deepening faith.
- Pre-Catechumenate / Period of Inquiry
- Rite of Initiation
- Catechumenate (longest formation period)
- Rite of Election with the bishop
- Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil
- Mystagogy — reflection and integration after Easter
St. Francis Xavier Catholic School
Sharing the parish campus is St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, a private, faith-based Catholic elementary and middle school serving learners from preschool through 8th grade. Part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City and a partner of the Children First Education Fund, the school works closely with the parish and families to nurture students' academic growth, moral development, and spiritual life in a supportive, faith-infused environment.
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Located on the parish campus: 4501 West 5215 South, Kearns, UT 84118
- Operates within the Diocese of Salt Lake City
- Partner of the Children First Education Fund
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Francis Xavier has a deep bench of lay-led ministries, sodalities, and service groups, giving parishioners many ways to live out their faith. Liturgical ministries include English and Spanish choirs, lectors, altar servers, and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. Outreach is anchored by the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, Refugee Resettlement, and Misión Prevención y Rescate. Spiritual and fraternal groups include the Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, Legion of Mary, Neocatechumenal Way, Encuentro Matrimonial, and a Spanish-language prayer group.
- Liturgical: English Choir, Spanish Choirs, Lectors, Altar Servers (Spanish), Sacristans
- Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, Refugee Resettlement, Misión Prevención y Rescate
- Fraternal / Spiritual: Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, Legion of Mary, Neocatechumenal Way, Prayer Group (Spanish)
- Family: Encuentro Matrimonial (Marriage Encounter), Quinceañera Preparation
- Parish life: Parish Council, Finance Council, Parish Festival, Bereavement Ministry, Friday Night Bingo, English DDD
Visiting & Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during posted office hours. Forms for Parish Registration, Wedding Requirements, Baptism Requirements, and Quinceañera Requirements are available through the parish office, and the staff page lists direct phone numbers and emails for ministry leaders so questions can be directed to the right person.
- Parish Office: 4501 West 5215 South, Kearns, UT 84118
- Phone: (801) 968-2123
- Church Secretary: Mrs. Jazmin Munoz — 801-968-2123 x121 — [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and observed holidays)
- Emergency line (after hours): 801-613-0813
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Mark O. Benvegnu1955–1962
Founding pastor of St. Francis Xavier; also served as Catholic chaplain at the Utah State Penitentiary (1958–1962).