Msgr. Fitzgerald given the Continuum of Caring Award

Courtesy photo/Steve Coray

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Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus of the Diocese of Salt Lake City (right), receives the Continuum of Caring Award from J. Kent Howard, chair of the St. Joseph Villa Foundation for Charity Care, and Ginger M. Moulton, president of the St. Joseph Villa Foundation for Charity Care.

SALT LAKE CITY — In the first Hope Benefit since Ensign Group purchased St. Joseph Villa, Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, was named the 2011 recipient of the Continuum of Caring Award on Oct. 11.

The award was established in 1995 to honor those who have significantly supported St. Joseph Villa, which was established in 1955 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word to care for the elderly and infirm. The recipients of the inaugural award were the Most Rev. Joseph L. Federal, sixth Bishop of Salt Lake City; Virginia Leahy and Norma Matheson.

Msgr. Fitzgerald, who previously served as a member of the Villa’s board of directors, has an incredible ability to move between secular, administrative matters and those of a pastoral, priestly ministry, said Dr. Galey Colosimo, principal of Juan Diego Catholic High School, who gave the tribute to Msgr. Fitzgerald at the Oct. 11 event.

Even in 1994-1995, when Msgr. Fitzgerald was serving jointly as vicar general of the diocese and executive director of Catholic Community Services, and at the same time overseeing construction of the Skaggs Catholic Center in Draper, he still regularly visited those he knew who were residents at St. Joseph Villa.

"No matter how rich, important or significant we think we are, at the end of the day … we will be judged on what we did for the least of our brothers, and in that regard there is no peer to Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald," Colosimo said.

Ginger Moulton, president of St. Joseph Villa Foundation for Charity Care, first met Msgr. Fitzgerald 26 years ago at the villa when he was visiting his mother. "I thought at the time, ‘What a wonderful son, to take such good care of her.’ And I’ve seen him many times at the Villa since," she said. "We’ve been very blessed to have him at St. Joseph Villa, and I think our community has been very blessed."

Speaking to Msgr. Fitzgerald, she added, "And that is why we wanted to say ‘thank you’ for all that you have done, not only for St. Joseph Villa and the residents but for everyone in our community."

In his comments, Msgr. Fitzgerald said he believes he has attended every Hope Benefit dinner since they began, he has known all the previous recipients, which include Jon and Karen Huntsman, the Thomas K. and Jane F. McCarthey Family, the Most Rev. George H. Niederauer, the eighth Bishop of Salt Lake City; and the Jack and Grace Mary Gallivan Family.

"It’s humbling, really, to be numbered with those who have been such a part of St. Joseph Villa," he said.

Although the for-profit Ensign bought the Villa in February, but the community’s desire to provide charity care remains, the St. Joseph Villa Foundation for Charity Care was created. The foundation has applied for non-profit status from the IRS.

"The foundation is attempting to carry out the mission of providing charity care that was established by the sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word years and years ago," said J. Kent Howard, the organization’s chairman.

In the past, the money raised at the Hope Benefit was donated for charity care, and that will continue, Howard said, adding that both Ensign and CHRISTUS, the previous owners, have made donations to the foundation.

"We do have seed money to keep this program going," he said. "Even though tonight is much smaller than it has been in previous years, we expect to see it grow as the foundation becomes more and more active in the community and people realize what the benefits are."