Diocese of Salt Lake City joins the Catholics around the world in closing out the Year of Faith

Intermountain Catholic

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From right, Bishop John C. Wester, Deacon Scott Dodge and Father Martin Diaz venerate the Holy Eucharist during close of the Mass for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe, in the Cathedral of the Madeleine. IC photo/Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — Catholics gathered throughout the world and in the Diocese of Salt Lake City on the Solemnity of Christ the King to close the Year of Faith opened by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

This solemnity, celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, was Nov. 24 this year.

In St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis thanked Pope emeritus Benedict for his providential initiative for Catholics to rediscover the beauty of the journey of faith begun on the day of their baptism, which made them children of God and brothers and sisters in the Church, he said. "A journey which has as its ultimate end our full encounter with God, and throughout which the Holy Spirit purifies us, lifts us up and sanctifies us so that we may enter into the happiness for which our hearts long," Pope Francis said.

"Christ is the center of all things … so the attitude demanded of us as true believers is that of recognizing and accepting in our lives this centrality of Jesus Christ in our thoughts, in our words and in our works; in this way our thoughts will be Christian thoughts of Christ," Pope Francis said.

In Salt Lake City, the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, echoed this theme as he concelebrated a Mass in the Cathedral of the Madeleine with Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus; Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general; and Father Martin Diaz, Cathedral of the Madeleine pastor.

On this solemnity, "we celebrate the kingship of Our Lord, Jesus Christ," said Bishop Wester. "By our baptism we share in Christ’s full mission, leading others through our loving service and offering ourselves as good stewards of God’s mercy and truth. We also gather on this final day of the Year of Faith to give thanks for the graces received in this time set apart to help us to grow in our friendship with the Lord and inspire our greater commitment to share in the work of evangelization."

The message of the feast day urges Catholics to live the faith every day, "which isn’t easy to do; that is why we have to internalize it," Bishop Wester said. "By internalizing the faith, living it, by praying and celebrating our faith, by believing Jesus is truly risen from the dead, we will be evangelizers."

The solemnity’s full title is "Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe," Bishop Wester said. "God is the central figure in our lives, but God is more, God is love and compassion; he is intimate, one with us. The kingdom of God is within."

As the Year of Faith closes, "this is the call now that is ours in the diocese, to continue to evangelize, to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in everything that we say and do," Bishop Wester said.

Many Utah Catholics heeded the call of the Year of Faith to deepen their beliefs by studying the faith, celebrating it and putting it into action. For example, Genaro Carrion did more charity work on his own and with the Ladies of Charity, said the Cathedral of the Madeleine parishioner.

"I am going on a pilgrimage this spring to the El Camino and Santiago de Compostela in Spain to heal my soul and to learn to care for my brothers and sisters," Carrion said.

Gene Randazzo, also a Cathedral parishioner, had ups and downs during the Year of Faith, he said.

"I’ve noticed that I had distractions away from my prayer life," said Randazzo. "My thoughts are that I’d like to be calm and peaceful and more in the presence of God, but the busyness of the world does not encourage that. It’s a real struggle, and I’m going to have to be more mindful."