Good Shepherd Catholic Church, East Carbon, Utah

The Catholic Church in the East Carbon area was established with the determination of the Priests and the faithful people who were Italians, Slavs, Irish, Japanese, Greeks, Hispanics and a small number of African Americans who immigrated from their homelands and kept their Catholic faith alive. They each celebrated their beliefs handed down by their ancestors and contiued with traditional customs.

Each nationality lived together in different sections of town with all housing furnished by the Utah Fuel Company who also owned the store where groceries could be purchased either by cash or credit.

In the early 1020's, Mass was occasionally celebrated in a gerneral assembly house. The church in Dragerton was completed in 1947 and Bishop Duane G. Hunt formally established Good Shepherd Parish. The church building was dedicated that same year, and the basement of the church was started and completed between 1952 and 1954. Numerous restoration projects were accomplished through the years with the assistance of faithful parishioners. 

After the completion of the church building in Dragerton, work was begun on the convent, which was completed in 1951. Prior to the sisters arrival, Catechism classes were taught in designated homes. 

Catechism classes were taught in Sunnyside beginning approximately 1926 and were held in the instructors homes. In 1939 an old house was donated in Sunnyside by the Utah Fuel Comany, and the rock altar was built from stone salvaged fro the old abandoned Coke ovens. Mass was said twie a month in the Sacred Heart chapel in Sunnyside and in the Old Columia school house. 

Durning the early 1990's, poor roads and lack of transporation prevented the Catholic church members in Columbia and Sunnyside from regularly attending church services. Occasionally, priests visted the area to celebrate mass. 

In 1939, the Utah Fuel Company donated an old house in Sunnyside fro the Catholic community's use. Members renovated the building, transforming it into the Sacred Heart Chapel, complete with an altar built from stones salvaged from abandon coke ovens.

In September of that year, Bishop Duane G. Hunt dedicated the chapel, and Monsgnor Giovannoni offered one of the first Masses. In 1943, Reverend John F. Egan, assistant pastor of Notre Dame Parish, moved to Dragerton to care for the Sacrad Heart Chapel.

Later, Father John A Sanders purchsed a lot for a new church, ad in 1947, the commuinty finished building it. That same year, Bishop Hunt established Good Shephered Parish. Men of the Holy Name Society built and installed new pews for the church.

However, the parish faced financial challenges. Due to high parish debt, Father LaBrache of Notre Dame Parish purchased a bus to transport children from East Carbon to Notre Dame School in Price, ensuring they received a quality Catholic education.

Despite the decline in membershop after the closure of the mines, Good Shepherd Parish continued to serve the Catholic community in the greater East Carbon area. The sucess of the parish was made possible by the grace of God and the sacrifices of many men and women whose love for God and His Church lead them to give generously of their time, talent, and treasures.

As this dedication continues, Good Shepherd Parish will look forward to many more years of life, including the centennial celbraton in 2047.