Spiritus Donorum Dinner

DRAPER — Juan Diego Catholic High School, like the St. John the Baptists Schools in the Skaggs Catholic Center, was born of a spirit of giving – a spiritus donorum. The Center and the schools stand as a testament to the generosity of Sam and Aline Skaggs, whose multi-million dollar gift to the Diocese of Salt Lake City allowed the schools to be built, and dreams of the spread of Catholic education to the south end of Salt Lake Valley to be realized.

"Our annual Spiritus Donorum Dinner is our reminder that the spirit of giving, as evidenced by Mr. and Mrs. Skaggs is a key value of our school," said Dr. Galey Colosimo. The principal of Juan Diego Catholic High School welcomed parents, volunteers, and donors to the 2006 dinner Dec. 12 in the school’s Black Box Theater.

"Thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Skaggs and their family, we have this gift; all that we have before us," Colosimo said. "They see the world differently than most, and they have used their success and their wealth in a ‘spiritus donorum,’ a spirit of giving. At Juan Diego we try to live their values in a variety of ways."

Noting that Sam and Aline Skaggs and their ALSAM Foundation have recently built a new high school, Mater Dei Catholic High School, near the border between San Diego, Calif., and Tijuana, Mexico, and have also given a gift of a Catholic elementary school to St. Andrew Parish in Riverton, Colosimo said the Skaggs family and the schools they have built stand for significant values and Catholic tradition."

A prayer before the meal was sung by Catholic Recording Artist Jesse Manibusan, a featured speaker throughout the school’s Feast Week, celebrating the feast of St. Juan Diego. The theme of this year’s observance was "God is Love," said Juan Diego Advancement Director Molly Gorman-Dumas.

Assistant Principal Chris Long, who has taught in the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Catholic School System since 1982, said before exciting things can happen on a high school campus, "someone has to make them happen."

Long related stories of teachers, parents, coaches, volunteers, and students, who, out of their own spirit of generosity and their own resources, "make sure everything that is supposed to take place at Juan Diego does."

From putting a much-needed pair of new athletic shoes in a needy student’s locker, to attending every debate tournament and track meet, Long said generous people illustrate the true meaning of Spiritus Donorum.

Some have provided books, athletic equipment, and needed encouragement to students, Long said. "They help produce and attend all of our school plays, and they run the chains up and down the fields during our football games. These people are volunteers. They are teachers giving more of their precious time and buying teaching supplies out of their own money. We have students raising funds for a sick classmate or tsunami relief."

Colosimo called for a "change in how we practice philanthropy. We must embrace the true spirit of giving, instead of giving so we can get some material thing in return.

"It would create a paradigm shift in our diocese if, in a true spirit of giving, Spiritus Donorum, we learned to give for the sake of giving, not for the sake of consumerism...

"The Catholic Church is worth it," Colosimo said. "We need to make that change."

Colosimo unveiled the high school’s annual poster, a dramatic view of a statue of the Pietá which can be found on the Skaggs Catholic Center campus and will serve as a centerpiece in a garden dedicated to teachers who have died. He also unveiled Michael Dente’s sculptures of the Magi, the final figures to be added to the school’s Nativity scene.

Unfortunately, Dente had been hospitalized earlier in the day and could not attend the dinner. The artist and teacher is recovering well.