Archbishop Wester celebrates diocesan Red Mass

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — Lawmakers, judges, law enforcement personnel and members of the military who gathered Nov. 4 in the Cathedral of the Madeleine for the Red Mass received thanks from Archbishop John C. Wester for their service to the community. 

The tradition of honoring of those in the legal professions with a Red Mass stretches back to the Middle Ages. The Diocese of Salt Lake City began celebrating the Red Mass nine years ago, when Archbishop Wester served as bishop. In 2015 he was transferred to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. He returned for a visit on Nov. 4, when he was a recipient of an award at the annual Catholic Community Services Humanitarian Dinner as well as the celebrant of the Red Mass.

Nov. 4 is the feast day of Saint Charles Borromeo, who earned a doctorate in both canon and civil law and, as Archbishop of Milan, worked to end corruption in the Church in the 16th century.

Concelebrating the Mass in the Cathedral of the Madeleine were Father Martin Diaz, rector of the cathedral; Monsignor Joseph M. Mayo, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish; Father Langes Silva, judicial vicar; and Father Patrick Elliott, pastor of Holy Family Parish. Honored guests included Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, Salt Lake City Chief of Police Mike Brown, Federal District Court judges Jill Parrish and David Nuffer, Utah National Guard Major General Jefferson S. Burton, Salt Lake City Fire Department Chief Karl Lieb, Third District Court Judge Joseph Fratto, U.S. Attorney John Huber, and many other judges, attorneys and members of local law enforcement, military and the legal professions, as well as the community. 

In his homily, Archbishop Wester focused on the Gospel reading, that of the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Lk 16:1-13). Two aspects of the parable apply to those in the legal professions and the military, he said: It is possible that the steward had been misjudged, and there is an element of self-sacrifice. 

“There’s an insight there, because often you are misjudged – often you are seen and painted with a broad brush, and when they see your uniform or your robes or your tie, or whatever, they might say, ‘Oh, you’re one of them.’ And it’s not easy to be misjudged, and yet you stay true and authentic to your calling, to do the very best that you can, even when you don’t feel that appreciation,” the archbishop said.

Also, members of those professions “often have to go the extra mile, you often have to put in long hours, you very often put your lives on the line for us,” Archbishop Wester said. “You quite often become very close to your clients and feel for them and want the best for them, and that’s not always easy, that personal investment, and so we thank you for that, as well.”

The jobs of those honored that day “are not an easy task,” he said, adding that the Red Mass was a moment to honor those in attendance for “remaining true to your commitment to our safety, to our military, to the law – conscious of the demands and the sacrifices that commitment takes. And we thank you for not using the law for your own selfish ends, for seeing yourselves as servants of the communities in which you live and work. … so we’re glad that we can tell you that we admire you not yielding to that temptation.” 

He assured them of the community’s undying gratitude, and said, “We pray for you and your families. We pray that you will continue to find fulfilment in your work, and satisfaction in your service to your community. May your commitment to God be a source of joy and strength for you, and a continued inspiration to be exemplary public servants as you are.”

Archbishop Wester’s homily was applicable to all those attending the Mass no matter their profession, said Ron Yengich, one of the event organizers. “It opens up, at least to me, the idea that in the law we’ve got to be open to all points of view, which is really the basis of the Red Mass.”

Archbishop Wester celebrated the first Red Mass in the diocese, so having him return as the celebrant this year was wonderful, said Yengich, adding that he was pleased that so many dignitaries from the various agencies showed their support by attending.

Members of the legal professions and the military who died or were injured during the past year were recognized during the Mass. This memorial “is really a big part of what we want to do as Catholics to remind people that we believe in the communion of saints, and the mere fact that these people have passed away doesn’t mean that they’re not in our hearts and our thoughts, and in large part still with us,” Yengich said.