Endowment established to honor Msgr. Mayo

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Martin Diaz (left), rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, announces that Zions Bank donated $10,000 to establish an endowment in honor of the many contributions to the cathedral and the community made by Monsignor Joseph M. Mayo (right) while he was the parish's pastor from 2000 to August of this year. IC photo/Marie Mischel

SALT LAKE CITY — The 10th Annual Bishop’s Dinner presentations opened with a joyful report, to which more good news was added. 

"We are happy to announce this evening the initiation of a new endowment in honor of Monsignor Mayo," said Father Martin Diaz, who began his assignment as rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in August. He replaced Msgr. Joseph Mayo, who held the position since 2000 and who began the tradition of the Bishop’s Dinner, an annual benefit for the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

The endowment for Msgr. Mayo, now pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish in Draper, is "in recognition of his many contributions to the Cathedral and the community during his term as Pastor," reads the dinner program regarding the endowment.

Fr. Diaz described how the endowment came about.

"As we were inviting Scott Anderson, CEO of Zions Bank, to come this evening … he turned to me and said, ‘In honor of Monsignor, are you planning to do anything? How would you like to honor him?’" Fr. Diaz said, adding that he took time to consider Anderson’s question before inviting Zions Bank to make an initial gift to start an endowment. Zions Bank’s donation was $10,000.

"That’s $1,000 for every year" of the Bishop’s Dinner, Fr. Diaz said, "so we have to have another $1,000 to keep him next year."

Fr. Diaz then left the podium so Msgr. Mayo could make his remarks.

"I’m very grateful to Scott Anderson and Zions Bank," Msgr. Mayo said. "Everyone knows how wonderfully Zions Bank contributes to so many wonderful projects and interests here in the city and also the state. My hat is off to all the wonderful people at Zions Bank and to all of you who have made these 10 years successful. You are the purpose of our coming tonight. We do it all for our beautiful Cathedral of the Madeleine."

As Msgr. Mayo concluded his remarks, Fr. Diaz returned to the podium with a surprise announcement. "I was just told that the [Semnani Family Foundation] is pledging another $10,000 in honor of Msgr. Mayo," he said.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, said he is profoundly grateful to Zions Bank and the Semnani Family Foundation for their generosity.

"It’s an inspiration for many to follow suit to add to the endowment," the bishop added.

Donations to the endowment may be made by contacting Fr. Diaz at 801-328-8941, or Jennifer Carroll, executive director of the Catholic Foundation of Utah, 801-328-8641 ext. 306.