Bishop's Dinner to honor Msgr. Mannion

Friday, Sep. 18, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY  — From 1991 to 1993, the Cathedral of the Madeleine doors were closed as the interior of the 84-year-old building underwent wall-to-wall restoration to repair hazards such as the faulty electrical system and a roof that was inadequately fastened to the walls.

The work was so extensive that “it looked like a bombed-out cathedral at a certain point. The ceiling was down, the walls were down, the windows were out, the floor was up, the sanctuary was being drilled out of existence,” said Monsignor M. Francis Mannion, who served as rector of the cathedral from 1986 to 2000. “It was frightening sometimes, and there were occasions when I wondered, ‘Are we making a big mistake here?’”

To get the whole place back together, on some days he worked 14 hours solely on the restoration, which involved more than 100 subcontractors, he said.

“I have to compliment Msgr. Mannion in particular on his stamina and his commitment to excellence, which meant many, many long hours of pouring through lists and plans. … He must have worked so hard to raise all the money that has been a direct benefit to all of us because now we have a wonderful restored cathedral to worship in regularly,” said Gregory Glenn, the cathedral’s director of liturgy and music, who was present during the renovation. 

The motto “A Cathedral for All People” was used during the renovation, which was supported by many in the non-Catholic community. To put that theme into practice, Msgr. Mannion helped establish the Good Samaritan program, which provides sack meals to anyone who comes to the door; the arts and humanities program, which includes the yearly Madeleine Festival of performances and the Eccles Organ Festival, now in its 22nd season; and a lecture series, which has since been discontinued.

“A Catholic parish is meant to reach all the people within the parish, Catholic and non-Catholic, and that’s why it’s important that there be outreach to the whole community,” Msgr. Mannion said.

Looking back at his 42 years as a priest, he is most proud of the cathedral restoration, he said.  “On my tombstone it should read ‘He helped renovate the cathedral.’”

He is quick to point out that he doesn’t deserve all the credit for the project. “I undertook it with the help of hundreds of really dedicated, expert people,” he said, particularly Bishop William K. Weigand. “I acted as his agent, but he is the one who raised the money and who had the vision to renovate the cathedral.”

After the cathedral was renovated, Glenn asked Msgr. Mannion about the possibility of creating a cathedral choir school from the students who participated in the after-school choir program. After a feasibility study, Bishop George H. Niederauer approved the project. The Madeleine Choir School opened in 1996, housed in the basement of the cathedral. In 2002 it moved into the former Rowland Hall-St. Mark’s School.

Glenn, who also serves as pastoral administrator of the school, said he believes it fits into Msgr. Mannion’s “vision of cathedrals as being powerful tools for evangelization. With the work of the Good Samaritan program, with the work of the arts and humanities program, he saw the choir school as one more avenue to have the cathedral be a voice for the Gospel in our community.”

Msgr. Mannion retired in 2012, but serves as pastor emeritus of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish. 

On Oct. 1, Msgr. Mannion will be honored at the Bishop’s Dinner, an annual event that benefits the Cathedral of the Madeleine. If asked to give a toast at the event, Glenn said, he would mention that Msgr. Mannion is very hard-working and strong-willed, and that he is dedicated to advancing God’s kingdom, but “I also know him to be a person who is deeply compassionate, and whenever anyone was ever in trouble, very quietly and behind the scenes, Msgr. Was helping them. That’s a part of him that I think people don’t know.” 

What: 2015 Bishop’s Dinner

When: Thursday, Oct. 1, 6 p.m.

Where: Grand America Hotel,  555 Main St, SLC

Tickets: $150

The keynote speaker will be the Most Rev. William K. Weigand, seventh Bishop of Salt Lake City and Bishop emeritus of Sacramento. For information or reservations, contact Patricia Wesson, 801-328-8941 ext. 108.