DDD Leadership is thanked by a young recipient

RIVERTON — "We are very proud of our new school," said Gigi Gist, Saint Andrew third-grader at the Diocesan Development Drive (DDD) Annual Bishop’s Leadership Society event at Saint Andrew Catholic School in Riverton Jan. 11. "Thank you for your generosity."

The DDD Office held the Bishop’s Leadership Society event to recognize and thank those donors who support diocesan ministries, program, and services through significant annual gifts to the DDD.

"We know that we would not be here without people like you who contribute to the needs of the diocese," said Gist. "Our Catholic education is very important to us, and we will never forget the people…who gave it to us through faith and love. We hope you will realize the tremendous gifts you have given us by providing a place for learning for numerous Catholic children today and in the future. I love it here."

"Saint Andrew Catholic School welcomed children in August 2008 in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade," said Father Francisco Pires, pastor of Saint Andrew Parish. "Each year Holy Cross Sister Karla McKinnie, principal, will add a new grade until the school’s enrollment reaches eighth grade."

Fr. Pires said the school was purchased with DDD funds in 1998. The rectory for the parish was later purchased with DDD funds. The diocese was then the recipient of a very generous donation of $7 million from the ALSAM Foundation.

"Your gifts and their gift made it possible to build this magnificent school, and it is paid for," said Fr. Pires.

Shannon Lee, DDD director introduced the ministries, programs, and services within the diocese. They are Office of Communications and Safe Environment Program, Colleen Gudreau; Government Community Relations and Community Peace and Justice Commission, Dee Rowland; Diaconate Formation, Holy Cross Sister Patricia Riley; Office of Finance, Joan Loffredo; Hispanic Ministries, Maria-Cruz Gray and Sandra Maxwell; Liturgical Training, Timothy Johnston; Rural Vision Outreach, Michael Lee; Person’s With Disabilities, Dolores Lopez; Religious Education, Susan Northway; Seminarian Education, Father Javier Virgen and Deacon Ricardo Arias; Utah Catholic Schools, Holy Cross Sister Genevra Rolf; and Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Matthew Boerke.

Lee asked three directors to speak about their ministries, and said the ministries, programs, and services are all supported by donations to the DDD.

Sr. Riley, deacon formation director said Deacon Forrest Gray is the director of continuing formation in the diocese. She said the diaconate has been in our Church since the second century. Throughout history, there has been a steady decline of deacons in the Church.

But in 1968, at the time of Vatican II, the diaconate was restored in our church. In 1974, the late Bishop Joseph Lennox Federal, then bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, began the first program. The deacons in our diocese are permanent deacons. The deacons preparing for the priesthood are called transitional deacons.

"We presently have 45 active deacons," said Sr. Riley. "We have 21 candidates in formation. Their ordination will take place in January 2010. The formation program is a four-year program. Classes are held bi-weekly at Juan Diego Catholic High School. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco told me when he was bishop of our diocese, that faith formation was the most important thing in the deacon program. The deacons focus on different types of spirituality, prayer, times of prayer, private prayer, and common prayer. There are classes in church history, scripture, ecclesiology, ethics, morality, canon law, homiletics, Catholic social teaching, and many more topics.

"Right now deacons are regularly providing Sunday services to 13 missions in Utah," said Sr. Riley. "We are limited financially in the diaconate program. The number of clergy is limited. Without your ongoing help and generosity, the diocese would not be able to offer the quality formation program we have, or provide the support and resources for the permanent deacons working throughout the state."

Boerke, director of youth and young adult ministry, said his goal is to strengthen the youth ministry at the local parishes.

"I provide resources for youth ministers," said Boerke. "We have on-line training through Notre Dame University, a library of resources, and scholarships. We have programs such as the Parish Athletic Recreation Association (PARA) league in basketball. We are also working with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, who on Scout Saturday are presented with their religious awards."

Boerke said the events presented include the Spring Fest for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students, and the Autumn Catholic Teen Social (ACTS) for high school students.

"We also have a leadership weekend in June at Utah State University," Boerke. "There the teens learn about teamwork on a mature level in terms of how to get things done, and build leadership within the youth so they can be active in their groups.

"Our most popular event is Catholic Summer Camp at Camp Tuttle, which we rent from the Episcopal Diocese," said Boerke. "We have a seventh- through ninth-grade camp, and a fourth- through sixth-grade camp. The camps are four to six days."

Fr. Virgen, associate vocations director and vicar for Hispanic Affairs in the diocese said on behalf of his vocation team of Father Colin Bircumshaw, pastor of Saint Ann Parish, and Deacon Ricardo Arias, one of the most vital ministries in our diocese is supporting education and formation of seminarian candidates for the priesthood. The Office of Vocations provides promotion, direction, and screening for men and women who feel God may be calling them to a life of service in the Church.

They meet prospective seminarians and religious postulants to learn how to discern their calling. In the few years, DDD contributions have helped send nine men to different seminaries. This year we have nine seminarians, five currently in theology studies, two in pre-theology with an emphasis in philosophy, and two seminarians completing undergraduate studies in college.

"These are our future priests, and they need your assistance for tuition, room and board, transportation, and a modest monthly stipend," said Fr. Virgen. "All of us must encourage individuals to consider a vocation, and we all must pray for vocations."

Bishop Wester said he was proud of all the staff who were present and glad the donors could talk with them personally.

"The local Church is wonderful, very vibrant, and alive," said Bishop Wester. "I want to thank all of you who support the ministries and programs so beautifully.

"There is so much focus on the economy at this time in our country and our world," said Bishop Wester. "We need to re-frame our perspective. We are living in our country and indeed in our world, and since last October have had time to think about our crisis. As a Church we want to journey with those who are finding this crisis burdensome. I want to say, and the Church wishes to say, we will support in any way we can all people who are suffering. Having said that, I believe this can be a time to reorder our priorities, and gain a new perspective. Christ’s call comes to us in season and out. He is the center of our lives. I simply ask you to give generously if you can."