New bishop's residence for SLC diocese

Friday, Jun. 26, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — The Diocese of Salt Lake City has placed for sale the bishop’s residence, which is located on Federal Heights Circle.

The property was donated to the diocese in 1997 by Sam and Aline Skaggs.

“It was a wonderful act of generosity; your home is such a personal gift,” said Archbishop John C. Wester shortly before he left Utah to be installed in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

Regarding the sale of the property, Archbishop Wester said, “the bishop does not need to live in a large mansion; for symbolic reasons it might give the wrong impression.”

The Federal Heights property has been used not only as a residence but also for retreats, fundraising events, Days of Recollection, and meetings, but the upkeep expenses outweighed its usefulness, he said.

A new bishop’s residence has been purchased; it is on First Avenue in Salt Lake City, across the street from other diocesan property that includes the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the Pastoral Center. The Chancery building, which was purchased a few years ago because of the need for additional office space, is directly west of the cathedral and will serve the need for future growth of the diocese’s ministries, the archbishop said.

The new residence, which was purchased to provide for Archbishop Wester’s successor, is a typical Avenues home but is a more humble dwelling than the Federal Heights residence, the archbishop said. However, he believes that the new residence also is a gift from the Skaggs family, in a way, because funds from the sale of the Federal Heights property will be used for the purchase, as well as to support other diocesan activities.

The generosity of Sam and Aline Skaggs and their four children made the new residence possible, Archbishop Wester said; a plaque recognizing their generosity will be placed in the home.