Newest cathedral endowment brings diverse donors

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester and Khosrow Semnani are shown at the 2013 Bishop's Dinner at the Grand America on Sept. 26. IC file photo

SALT LAKE CITY — When the Monsignor Joseph M. Mayo Endowment for the Cathedral of the Madeleine was announced at the Bishop’s Dinner Sept. 26, the initial $10,000 grant from Zions Bank was immediately matched by Khosrow Semnani, president of the Semnani Family Foundation.

Many others who were at the dinner also pledged contributions, including a very generous donation from Paul and Jane Hitzelberger, parishioners of Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Park City, said Jennifer Carroll, director of the Catholic Foundation of Utah, which administers the endowment.

The diversity of donors "is part of the statewide support" for the Cathedral of the Madeleine, said Father Martin Diaz, who became pastor in August. His predecessor, Msgr. Mayo, held the position for 13 years and now is pastor at Saint John the Baptist Parish in Draper.

The widespread support for the endowment means that "people appreciated the years and years of dedication that Msgr. Mayo gave to the cathedral. What was gratifying to me is that the people recognized that. It was a way of saying ‘thank you for your work,’" said Fr. Diaz, adding that Msgr. Mayo built on the work of his own predecessor, Monsignor M. Francis Mannion, who oversaw the restoration of the cathedral.

The endowment came about after Msgr. Mayo made his traditional visit to Zions Bank President and CEO Scott Anderson to invite him to the Bishop’s Dinner. Msgr. Mayo’s reassignment was known by then, and "Scott Anderson turned to me … and said, ‘If you think of doing something special for Msgr. Mayo, let me know,’" Fr. Diaz said.

After some discussion, the decision was made to establish an endowment through the Catholic Foundation of Utah in Msgr. Mayo’s name, Fr. Diaz said; the minimum for a named endowment is $10,000.

Fr. Diaz sent a letter to Anderson, saying, "If Zions Bank made a lead gift, then we would invite others to join in hopes of arriving at $10,000. His response came back, ‘Our gift is $10,000,’" Fr. Diaz said. "People are so generous."

"Zions Bank is so proud to support the Cathedral of the Madeleine’s Joseph M. Mayo Endowment because it will help build a long-term legacy of funding for an important historic landmark in our community," Anderson said in a statement. "The cathedral is a source of pride for all Utahns, and its preservation ensures that future generations will experience its grandeur."

Although Anderson was unable to attend this year’s Bishop’s Dinner, among the many who did was Khosrow Semnani, president of the Semnani Family Foundation. When the Msgr. Mayo endowment was announced, Semnani immediately told Fr. Diaz that he would match the amount.

"I was stunned," Fr. Diaz said. "The Bishop’s Dinner is filled with generous people."

Charity has been a Semnani family tradition, Semnani said. "My grandmother was the one who always promoted that."

The Maliheh Free Clinic in Salt Lake City is named after Semnani’s grandmother; it provides free medical services for the uninsured and low-income families.

Charity is also a teaching of the Islamic faith, said Semnani, who is Muslim, but "it’s the way of God. … It’s not limited to one race or one religion. My grandma always said that when you help and you tell people, you get rewarded by people, but if you don’t tell people, you get rewarded by God."

The Msgr. Mayo endowment is for the ongoing maintenance of the cathedral, "which is substantial," Fr. Diaz said. "It keeps $100,000 a year to keep the cathedral to keep it beautiful and keep it standing. The cathedral, even though it’s a stone building, requires lots of care."

Anyone can contribute any amount to the endowment; to do so, call the Cathedral of the Madeleine at 801-328-8941 or the Catholic Foundation of Utah at 801-328-8641.