A Parish Named for a Beehive

Saint Ambrose Parish sits at 2315 East Redondo Avenue on Salt Lake City's east bench, a few blocks south of the mouth of Parley's Canyon. Bishop Hunt established the parish on January 4, 1948, and chose its name to honor St. Ambrose, the learned Bishop of Milan. The choice carried a quiet coincidence: St. Ambrose's Episcopal coat of arms contained a beehive, a symbol of eloquence that is also the emblem of the State of Utah. The parish keeps December 7th as its patronal feast, the day St. Ambrose was consecrated bishop in 374.

Today the parish is led by Father Erik Richtsteig and serves a wide swath of the east bench through its own school, a busy calendar of Masses, and ministries that reach from toddlers to seniors. A separate Vaughan Center, on the north side of the parking lot, houses most adult meetings, choir rehearsals, and the parish library.

Mass Times and the Latin Mass

The weekend schedule offers four Masses: Saturday Vigil at 5:00 pm, then Sunday at 8:30 am, 11:00 am, and 5:00 pm. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 7:00 am and on Saturday morning at 9:00 am. Confessions are heard Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 to 5:00 pm and Saturday from 3:00 to 4:40 pm in the chapel, and by appointment with the pastor. Additional reconciliation times are added in Advent and Lent.

The parish also celebrates a Latin Mass every Wednesday at 6:00 pm, giving the local Catholic community a regular traditional-form option. During Lent, Friday evening Mass at 6:00 pm is followed by the Stations of the Cross.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs Tuesday morning to evening, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm in the church. A team of regulars fills the hourly slots, and substitutes are welcomed, especially over the summer months. Daily adoration is also available at the nearby St. Catherine of Siena Newman Center for those who want additional hours.

Several prayer groups meet around the Mass schedule. The rosary is prayed after every weekday 7:00 am Mass, and additional gatherings include a Monday afternoon prayer group at 3:00 pm in the chapel, the Wednesday evening rosary at 7:00 pm in the church, the Saturday prayer group after the 9:00 am Mass, and the Sunday rosary after the 11:00 am Mass. A First Saturday prayer group meets in the Vaughan Center after the 9:00 am Mass for prayer, service, and fellowship.

Mass is livestreamed from the church, with replays of Sunday and daily Masses available through the parish's YouTube channel.

Father Erik Richtsteig

The Very Rev. Erik Richtsteig, known to most parishioners as Father Erik, has been pastor of St. Ambrose since coming to the parish. He was born on June 2, 1965, in Cedar City, Utah, but grew up around Salt Lake City. His father, Major David Richtsteig USMC, was killed in action in Vietnam in December 1965, and Father Erik spent a year in Quantico, Virginia, with his mother while waiting for his father's remains to be identified and returned. He attended Forest Elementary, Bonneville Elementary, Granite Park Junior High, and Highland High School.

Father Erik decided to become Catholic in 1980 and was baptized, confirmed, and received his first Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil of 1981 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. He went on to earn a BS and an MA in Philosophy at the University of Utah, undertook doctoral studies at Marquette University, and finished his priestly formation at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. He was ordained for the Diocese of Salt Lake City on June 25, 1994.

His previous assignments include parochial vicar at St. Patrick in Salt Lake City and Notre Dame de Lourdes in Price, and pastor of St. Anthony of Padua in Helper and St. James the Just in Ogden. He is currently the State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus and Spiritual Assistant for the Salt Lake City Lay Carmelites. From 1997 through 2005 he served as a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve. Father Erik records a homily podcast and posts his sermons online.

Sacraments at the Parish

The parish follows the standard seven Catholic sacraments and lays out detailed preparation for each.

Baptism is offered to infants and young children of registered parishioners, with at least one Catholic godparent who is confirmed, at least 16 years old, and has completed a baptism preparation program within the last three years. A non-Catholic Christian may stand as a witness alongside a Catholic godparent. Preparation includes a one-hour class held the first Sunday of each month after the 11:00 am Mass, with both an in-person and an online option; families are asked to allow two months to schedule. Father Erik prefers to celebrate baptisms outside of Mass, though they can also take place within Mass.

First Reconciliation and First Eucharist follow a two-year preparation, generally beginning around age six or seven. Children in the parish school prepare in the course of the regular curriculum. Children who attend other schools take Sunday-morning classes through the Religious Education program.

Confirmation is offered as the final sacrament of initiation. Youth typically prepare during seventh and eighth grades and are confirmed in the spring. Adults who have not yet been confirmed are confirmed at the Cathedral of the Madeleine on the schedule set by the Diocesan Office of Worship.

Confession follows the standard weekly schedule noted above, with priests available by appointment for anyone in need of individual absolution outside those hours.

Anointing of the Sick is offered to anyone struggling with illness and is best celebrated communally, ideally within Mass, when possible.

Marriage at St. Ambrose is reserved to registered parishioners. Couples begin with a comprehensive pre-nuptial questionnaire, work with the marriage preparation team, attend an Engaged Encounter weekend, and complete Natural Family Planning through the diocesan Office of Family Life. The parish asks for at least four months' lead time, and up to a year is welcome. Weddings are scheduled on Saturdays before 3:00 pm; the Church does not celebrate weddings on Sundays or during Lent.

Funerals are arranged in person with the pastor. Eulogies are held outside the Funeral liturgy, typically at the vigil, the graveside, or the luncheon that follows. The parish's Bereavement Team, known as the Bees, can provide a light luncheon for up to 50 guests at no charge.

Becoming Catholic Through OCIA

Adults who want to explore Catholicism, complete their initiation, or learn more about the faith join the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, or OCIA (the current name for the process formerly known as RCIA). Sessions meet on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm in the Vaughan Center, with additional Sunday Scripture reflection gatherings.

The parish walks candidates through the four traditional periods of formation. The inquiry stage is a time of simply asking questions about Jesus, the Catholic Church, and the Christian life. The catechumenate is a deeper stage of catechesis, learning the faith and how to live it. The period of purification and enlightenment coincides with Lent, a time of intense prayer and reflection in the weeks before the Easter Vigil, where the sacraments of initiation are celebrated. After Easter, the newly initiated spend the Easter season in post-baptismal catechesis, reflecting especially on the Mass and the Eucharist.

For children between the ages of 7 and 17 who have not been baptized, the parish's Religious Education program offers a similar process tailored to their age group.

Religious Education and J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School

The parish school, J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School, accepts students from toddler age through eighth grade and shares the parish campus. Its mission is to guide students to become respectful, responsible, and productive citizens through quality academic instruction grounded in Catholic teaching and tradition. The school supports the parish's sacramental preparation in the standard course of study.

An Extended Day Program has been in place since 1995 and is run out of the Vaughan Center. It serves Cosgriff families who need supervised care before and after school and runs on the same calendar as the school. Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten children attend in the morning and after their half-day programs; Kindergarten through eighth graders arrive as early as 7:30 am and stay until 5:30 pm. The program is closed when Cosgriff is closed, and a late-pickup fee applies after 5:31 pm.

The Religious Education program complements the school by reaching children who attend public school or homeschool. Classes are held on Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:45 am, September through May. All children who are three years old by September 1 are welcome, including those who already attend Catholic school. The program runs from preschool through high school, with post-Confirmation classes offered for older youth. Sacramental years require two years of prior catechesis.

Homeschooling families can register with the Religious Education office and follow the curriculum at home, provided at least one parent or guardian commits to weekly instruction and Sunday Mass attendance. Volunteer catechists and substitute teachers are a regular need; the parish notes that all volunteers and staff must be Safe Environment certified through the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

The Vaughan Center and Parish Groups

The Vaughan Center, on the north side of the parish parking lot, is the hub for most adult ministry and fellowship. It hosts the OCIA sessions, the library used for Choir rehearsals and Adult Faith Formation meetings, and the space where the First Saturday prayer group gathers.

After the Sunday 8:30 and 11:00 am Masses, the Coffee Hour Social Ministry opens in the social hall. Volunteer groups from families, ministries, and the school sign up to serve coffee and doughnuts, often using the morning to showcase a ministry or recruit new members. Bakers who want to contribute treats can reach out to the Coffee Hour coordinator.

The 49ers Club gathers adults who are at least 49 years old (the only membership requirement) for monthly luncheons, holiday parties, parish projects, and trips, including the well-attended outing to Wendover.

The St. Ambrose Women's Guild, founded in August 2016, brings together women of the parish for social, service, and faith-building activities. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month from August through June, beginning with a social at 6:30 pm and the business meeting at 7:00 pm.

The Choir sings for Sunday Masses and rehearses Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm in the Vaughan Center, with a shorter rehearsal before the 11:00 am Sunday Mass beginning at 10:15 am. The parish also notes that St. Ambrose's acoustics and the Roper Memorial pipe organ make the church a fitting venue for choral or instrumental concerts.

Knights of Columbus Council 15418

St. Ambrose Council 15418 was chartered in 2011 and is open to all practicing Catholic men 18 and older. The council meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 pm for a Charity, Unity, and Fraternity gathering. Father Erik serves as chaplain.

Council activities include Food for Families, free-throw and Keep Christ in Christmas contests, faith-based essay contests, Adopt a Parish support of Middle Eastern Christians, support of Utah diocesan seminarians, Christmas meals for the needy, parish dinners, fish fries, Special Olympics support, and ceremonial honor guards for veterans. Members also volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall, where the parish currently helps cover one shift on the third Thursday and Friday of each month from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Respect for Life Ministry

The Respect for Life Ministry has adopted the Holy Family as its patron saints and welcomes new members at any time. The ministry supports the parish's Walking with Moms in Need resources for families facing unexpected pregnancies and maintains a meal train to assist new families welcoming a baby. The First Saturday prayer group, which gathers in the Vaughan Center after the 9:00 am Mass, includes prayer for life among its intentions.

Parishioners can also receive state-level pro-life legislation updates by texting LIFE to 385-200-9929, and stay informed on federal legislation through Human Life Action. The ministry coordinates with the diocesan Respect for Life office.

Bereavement, Homebound, and Pastoral Care

The Bereavement Ministry, nicknamed the Bees, can set up tables, shop, prepare, serve, and clean up a light luncheon for up to 50 people following a funeral at the church. Volunteers are always welcome.

The Homebound Ministry sends trained Home Communion Ministers to parishioners who are homebound, in assisted living, in the hospital, or in nursing homes. The coordinator works with local facilities including Monument Canyon Rim, Mt. Olympus Rehabilitation Center, Spring Gardens, and The Ridge. Father Erik is on call for sacramental emergencies.

Office, Communications, and Giving

The parish rectory office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Telephone (801-485-5610) and email reach the parish office during those hours; bulletins and announcements also flow through the parish email list and the parish Facebook page.

St. Ambrose supports itself through several giving channels. Online giving runs through OSV (Our Sunday Visitor) and accepts both one-time and recurring gifts via credit card or bank account. Parishioners can also set up electronic transfers directly from their bank, give through bank bill pay, or place checks and cash in the offertory basket. A standard $10 offering is customary for Mass intentions, though no fee is required.

History, Windows, and a New Coat of Arms

The parish keeps an extensive written history that traces the community from 1948 to the present, including the building of the parish school and the construction of the present church. The stained glass windows in the church are noted as a particular point of pride, and the parish has published a guide to their symbolism and craftsmanship.

Most recently, the parish has adopted a new coat of arms, described in a bulletin insert. The parish continues to mark the major feasts of the Church year with liturgies that include livestreamed Holy Week services, the Easter Triduum, and Solemnities throughout the year.