Father Eugenio Yarce was born in San Andres de Querguia in Antioquia Department, Colombia. He attended a minor seminary in his home country, then went to Mount Angel Seminary in Ogden. He was ordained a priest by the Most Rev. William K. Weigand, seventh Bishop of Salt Lake City, on Feb. 22, 1992 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Ogden.

His first assignment was as parochial vicar of Saint Joseph Parish in Ogden. He then was parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Parish in Salt Lake City, splitting his time with Saint Marguerite Parish in Tooele and Mission San Felipe in Wendover. After a year he moved to Notre Dame Parish de Lourdes in Price, where he was parochial vicar until being appointed pastor of Saint Bridget’s in Milford and Saint John Bosco in Delta. After a full six-year term, he returned to Mission San Felipe, where he served first as parochial administrator, then as pastor. In 2003 he was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Salt Lake City, where he served for two terms. Now, after completing two full terms as pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Kearns, he has been appointed pastor of Saint Peter Parish in American Fork, effective Aug. 1.

In addition to his pastoral assignments, Fr. Yarce served a term on the diocesan Building Committee.

“In my personal life there have been a lot of blessings,” Fr. Yarce said when asked what he would like his new parishioners to know about him.

One of the most memorable experiences he has had was while he was serving in Wendover, but got a call from a family in Salt Lake City who asked him to accompany them to Rome with their son through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Having received permission from the bishop, Fr. Yarce went, then had the opportunity to concelebrate Mass with John Paul II in his private chapel. However, he needed someone in Rome who could confirm that he really was a Catholic priest. Fr. Yarce couldn’t think of anyone, so he said, “I have someone who really knows me – that I am a Catholic priest.” When asked for the name, he replied, “God.”

“They said, ‘Well, you’re on the list,’” he said, adding that the Mass with the pope “was a great experience.”

With his new assignment, he plans to listen to the St. Paul congregation, “their hopes, their expectations,” he said, and he plans to “build up their spirituality and unify the congregation between the English and the Spanish community and any other ethnicity that we find there.”

He has already identified one concern, which is that the church building is too small to accommodate the congregation. He has experience with renovating churches, having done so at San Felipe and Sacred Heart, as well as starting a project at St. Francis Xavier, so he is hoping to get the people of his new parish to work together to expand the church.

“I think I enjoy working for the people of God, and everything just comes from there,” he said, adding that he feels blessed to have been given the gift of the priesthood.

In his free time, he enjoys informal gatherings with parishioners, such picnics in the park. At home, he has a container garden and likes to listen to music. Each year he returns to Colombia for a family reunion.

Rather than a traditional farewell reception, Fr. Yarce is planning a Holy Hour at 4 p.m. on July 27 to give thanks “for the family that has been given me for these 12 years. … It is one way to express my gratitude to the Lord because he has been a great provider,” he said, adding that during that time he also will pray for all intentions of his congregation.