Bishop Solis thanks Catholic Foundation of Utah for 40 years of supporting the mission of the Catholic Church in Utah

Friday, Apr. 19, 2024

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — The Catholic Foundation of Utah celebrated its 40th year with an anniversary brunch on April 13 at St. Thomas More Parish in Cottonwood Heights.

The CFU manages 438 active endowments that benefit parishes, schools and various programs in the diocese, including the youth ministry, support for rural Church communities, education of seminarians, the formation of deacons and priests’ retirement. Last year, beneficiaries collectively received just under $1 million in distributions from those endowments, said Howard Lemcke, president of the CFU Board of Trustees.  

Attending the brunch were Bishop Oscar A. Solis; Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general; Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus; other clergy of the diocese; representatives from Utah Catholic Schools and various parishes that are beneficiaries; along with CFU trustees.

The CFU is “not just an organization or an institution, it is part of the mission of the Church,” Bishop Solis said at the brunch. “In fact, if you will notice, the Catholic Foundation of Utah supports all the parish ministries throughout the diocese for those long 40 years.”

The bishop offered his gratitude to all the donors who have contributed to the CFU over the past 40 years. Funds from the CFU endowments were instrumental in forming all the ministries that are happening in the diocese, the bishop said, and this “was brought about by the spirit of generosity of the people of God in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.”

Anyone can donate to an existing endowment or, with a minimum contribution of $10,000, establish an endowment. Funds are invested and managed by professional advisors, and overseen by the CFU Board of Trustees. Dividends from the endowments are distributed annually to the beneficiaries named in the endowment. 

The bishop asked the CFU members at the brunch to dream about the local Church for the next 30 years and the CFU’s role in shepherding the people of God in Utah. Helping those in need and ministering to the Catholic community has been possible “through your generosity, the goodness of your heart, your love for God and your love for the Church,” he said, and for the future “we don’t have any doubt, but we are filled with hope and confidence that the Catholic Foundation of Utah will be there to answer the coming needs of the mission of the Church.” 

He thanked the CFU members “for your generosity, thank you for your trust, thank you for your love for God and the Church.”

Lemcke, the board president, added his own thanks to those in the room for not only attending the brunch but also “more importantly, for being there in the sense of presence over years and in many cases, decades; for the things that you have looked to do for this diocese and invited the foundation in to help you meet those goals.” 

Through the endowments, the CFU helps people accomplish what they want to do for one of the missions of the local Church, Lemcke said. Looking to the future, he referred to the bishop’s request, and asked, “Why dream small dreams?”

Rebecca Duberow, a long-time trustee, urged those present to “let our diocese – which is sprawling – know about the possibilities” offered by CFU. She also suggested that people who establish an endowment let their children and other family members know what their wishes are so they can be carried out. 

Nevah Stevenson, executive director of the CFU, echoed Duberow’s comments, asking those present to let others know “the good that Catholic Foundation can help make happen in this diocese. We are not the cause that people are giving to, we are just the conduit that’s helping things be done – whatever it is our generous donors and benefactors decide needs to be done.”

Visit https://www.dioslc.org/foundation for information about CFU.