Bishop Wester thanks DDD contributors

Friday, Sep. 19, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — Support for the Bishop’s Leadership Society increased significantly this year, with 53 new members. Also, 22 members reached the five-year level and 25 marked 10 years with the society, which recognizes those who have donated to the Diocesan Development Drive at the levels of $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 or $10,000 or more.

At the annual celebration honoring those in the Bishop’s Leadership Society, held Sept. 12, the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, blessed the members for their generosity and prayed that they “may be a living sign of the vitality and the hope of our wonderful local Church.” 

In thanking the members who gathered at the Bishop’s Residence, Bishop Wester acknowledged that much of the support they give the diocese goes unrecognized. In this they “have the spirit of Saint John Paul II – it’s not about you, it’s about God, it’s about Jesus Christ, it’s about the Church, it’s about the people that the Church serves,” Bishop Wester said. “I’m so impressed with the fact that your kindness and your generosity are something that are done not for your own glory or your own credit, but it’s done for God; it’s done for the Church, and I assure you that your generosity is going a long, long way in this diocese. The money that you give us, the time that you give us, the expertise that you give us, and the experience that you share with us, the advice that you give us goes a long, long way.”

For example, the DDD supports the diocesan seminarians in their studies, helps pay for the training of the class of permanent deacons who just entered their second year of studies and are scheduled to be ordained in 2017, contributes to the diocese’s various efforts in the rural missions, and helps fund the Utah Catholic Schools.

“I could go on and on with the examples” of how the money is used, Bishop Wester said, but made the point that he and all the Pastoral Center staff are very grateful for the contributions of the members of the Bishop’s Leadership Society.

“You make possible the work of this local Church, and I want to assure you of our gratitude and our prayers,” Bishop Wester said.