Sacred space for center's youth
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OGDEN, Utah — It began as a dream, to "create some sacred space," space that is essential for youth who are struggling with making right choices, said Marty Mendenhall, supervisor of the Mill Creek Youth Center, Division of Juvenile Justice Services, Utah State Department of Human Services.
A career worker in youth corrections, he said: "I don't know how to work with human beings, in general, without addressing the spiritual side of them."
At the dedication service for the multi-faith chapel May 24, he spoke of two who brought the dream for sacred space into fruition, both who are now gone: Tamara Arceneaux, an immigrant from Italy who cleaned houses for a living; she donated $90,000 in her will to what would be the Mill Creek Chapel. The second was Brett Richards, an architect. The building he designed was one of his last projects before he was killed while on a Book of Mormon lands tour in Guatemala in 2004.
What began with a $500 donation in 2002 and a committee wondering what to do next developed quickly.
Other donors included people of various faiths, and many companies and individuals who reached out to help. The Church also contributed. A cement company, for example, asked if it could provide a lower rate, chose to donate the entire 40 yards of cement for the foundation.
"The whole project had the hand of God on it from the beginning," Brother Mendenhall said.
Lisa-Michele Church, executive director, Utah Department of Human Services, said that the young people, such as those in this facility, have been failed by a lot of people in their lives, and "this gives them a chance to find spirituality, find ways to develop empathy, a critical quality to make amends, and find their way back."
"A chapel gives hope, and there is always room for hope."
Brad Orton, president of the Millcreek (Correctional Facility) Branch, Plain City Utah Stake, said that "this chapel could not have happened if not for the fact that God loves these young men and women. I feel really strongly that He wanted a place for them to meet."
The chapel, he said, has a peaceful feeling, "like no other place in this facility."
In her remarks, Rachel Paunic of Eagle River, Alaska, daughter of Tamara Arceneaux, described her mother as a "wonderful and Christian lady" with a "very giving heart."
"She loved every single family" whose homes she cleaned, and she helped many people in times of suffering, said her daughter.
Rebecca Richards, widow of architect Brett Richards, explained that the unique feature of the chapel's design is a curved wall that symbolizes someone not walking on the straight and narrow path — representing perhaps a broken life — that leads to a window that is letting in light. "The light is representing the light of Christ," she said. "Brett knew that people could feel the light of Christ and have hope of mending a broken life, and also of healing. The straight wall then represents walking a straight and narrow path."
Services included a prayer by Father Erik J. Richtsteig of the St. James Catholic Church, a Polynesian dance by the mostly non-Polynesian young men in the facility, a youth choir, a message by the Rev. Robert Hall of the New Zion Baptist Church, a dedicatory prayer by "Brother John" Della-Ratta of the Rose of Sharon Ministries, and a "Hearty Feast" for all.
But before the dedicatory service ended, a few youth in the correctional facility were invited to make comments.
One, a young woman in her mid-teens, said she was age 7 when her father left, and age 9 when her mother left.
"I was raised in the LDS Church, and with Protestant and Catholics. When I came here, I was very far from God. One night I started going back to the LDS Church. They brought me back, and now every Sunday and Thursday I get reminded that I am a daughter of God and He loves me.
"He is always there; God is closest to me when I am in lockup, because I need Him the most in there.
"I am glad I have a chapel. That's cool. No more back room — we get to go to the actual chapel. When I saw it, I said, 'Wow, this is nice.' They built that for us, for us as Mill Creek kids.
"It's really special that there are people out there who really care for us. I am really touched. I am grateful you pitched in and built that chapel."
E-mail to: jhart@desnews.com
