2022 Bishop's Dinner set for Sept. 8

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SALT LAKE CITY — Work is finishing up on the restoration of the historic main doors of the Cathedral of the Madeleine. It is funds raised at the annual Bishop’s Dinner that allow such work to be done, said Patricia Wesson, the cathedral’s director of development, who has worked on the event for 19 years.

The Bishop’s Dinner 2022: A Benefit for The Cathedral of the Madeleine will be held Sept. 8. This year’s keynote speaker will be the Most Rev. Daniel Henry Mueggenborg, Bishop of Reno.

Bishop Mueggenborg, an Oklahoma native, was ordained a priest on July 14, 1989, in Tulsa, at Holy Family Cathedral. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Oklahoma State University in 1984, studied pre-theology at St. Meinrad Seminary and earned degrees in theology and biblical theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle by Pope Francis on April 6, 2017. Bishop Mueggenborg was appointed the eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Reno on July 20, 2021 and was installed on September 24, 2021.

Bishop Mueggenborg visited the Cathedral of the Madeleine in October 2019, when he was the presenter for the annual convocation for priests of the diocese.

“Salt Lake City is very blessed to have such a classical cathedral as part of their metro heritage,” he said in an email interview.  “It is more than a beautiful structure – it is a transcendent symbol that always lifts the spirit to higher realms and keeps the present occupations in perspective.”

In his address at the dinner, Bishop Mueggenborg will speak on “The Cathedral – Ancient Lessons for Contemporary Society.”

“The Cathedral of the Madeleine preserves so many of the very important architectural details that are part of the great heritage of Catholic cathedrals all the back to the very first one (St. John Lateran in Rome) which was dedicated in 324 A.D.,” Bishop Mueggenborg said.  “Every cathedral is mean to be a ‘daughter’ to that great ancient Christian basilica.  The statements the early Christians wanted to make to the larger public are relevant for our time as well.  I will focus on four of those lessons in my talk.”

Along with hearing from Bishop Mueggenborg, those who attend the bishop’s dinner will view a video produced by cathedral staff. In this year’s video, Wesson interviews several members of the cathedral community about their connection to the cathedral and its impact on their lives. Bishop Oscar A. Solis also will speak.

The goal for this year’s dinner is $375,000. Along with a donation from a private charitable foundation, those funds will be used for restoration of the cathedral’s floor.