Annual dinner honors Bishop Irish, benefits St. Joseph Villa

IC photo by Marie Mischel

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The Right Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, was presented with a birthday cake during the Hope Benefit for CHRISTUS St. Joseph Villa on April 8.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Right Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, accepted the Continuum of Caring Award April 8 during the 21st Annual Hope Benefit for CHRISTUS St. Joseph Villa.

The event is the primary fundraiser for the villa’s Charity Care Fund, which provides financial assistance for residents, some of whom are seniors on fixed incomes. Previous recipients of the award include Irene Sweeny and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Catholic Bishop Duane Hunt established the villa in 1947 to care for the elderly.

During this year’s event, Msgr. Terrence J. Fitzgerald, vicar general of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, called Bishop Irish a "dear friend" whom he has known since she was consecrated in 1996. "I certainly have witnessed Bishop Tanner Irish’s generosity in the community in so many different ways for the support for tremendously important causes that really were causes on behalf of the most vulnerable, on behalf of those who so often don’t have someone to speak up for them."

Msgr. Fitzgerald also read a letter from Archbishop George Niederauer, who knew Bishop Irish when he administered to the Salt Lake diocese. "Our association was always one of warm friendship, of working together for the interfaith community and the welfare of the people of Salt Lake City and of Utah," Archbishop Niederauer wrote. "I pray that this honor will assure Bishop Irish of the great regard in which she is held by all people of Utah and will assure the recognition of and gratitude for her great spiritual leadership during these past many years."

Numerous people paid homage to Bishop Irish in a video that was played during the dinner.

"Bishop Carolyn has demonstrated a willingness to speak the truth about very difficult issues, whether that’s about guns in churches and schools or that’s about immigration or that’s about health care; a number of societal issues that are very, very difficult," said Stephen Hutchinson, of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah’s Office of the Chancellor.

Bishop Irish has been a great gift to the community, said Christine Durham, chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court, adding that she is able to bridge many gaps in the community, "and she does it with such respect and she manages to communicate to the rest of us that we should try to do it as well."

After the video, Susan Northway, chair of the Friends of St. Joseph Villa, the non-profit group that organizes the benefit, said Bishop Irish is "a person who recognizes the innate dignity in every human being given to us by our Creator." The villa’s mission, she added, "is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and it’s very apparent to me that Bishop Tanner Irish has done this in her life."

More people attended this year’s dinner than last year, said Ginger Moulton, the villa’s chief development officer. "We were very pleased with the turnout and the support that people gave," she said. "We feel like we did very well for the charity care program. People were just very, very generous and that always makes a great difference."