Fundraiser to help support lay ministry programs

Intermountain Catholic

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SALT LAKE CITY — Many parishes throughout the United States depend upon lay ministers to run programs such as religious education, serve as spiritual directors and direct prayer groups. In the Diocese of Salt Lake City, some of these laypeople are educated through the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Formation program, a four-year training offered in both English and Spanish. The current cohorts in both languages are completing their third year of the program; the inaugural group received their certificates in 2010.

Some of the training for the LEM Formation program is offered through the Congar Institute for Ministry Development, a Texas-based ministry of the Southern Dominican Province. Three years ago, the Friends of the Congar Institute was formed in the Diocese of Salt Lake City; they created the Gala Congar as a fundraiser.

Each year during the gala the Yves Congar Award is presented to a person or persons in the diocese who promotes laity in the mission of the Catholic Church.

This year, the award will be presented to Gregory Glenn, director of liturgy and music at the Cathedral of the Madeleine and pastoral administrator of the Madeleine Choir School.

Glenn is celebrating his 25th year working for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. He arrived in 1988 to accept the position of diocesan director of liturgy.

With a graduate degree in theology and liturgical studies from Catholic University, an undergraduate degree in organ performance and experience as an assistant in the music department at the Basilica of the National Shrine, Glenn found Utah to be "full of all kinds of potential and all kinds of exciting possibilities," he said.

At the time the Cathedral of the Madeleine was preparing for renovation, and plans were already in place for a new organ. "There were all of these things happening here that were very compelling, so that’s why I decided to come," he said.

In 1991 he became director of liturgy and music for the cathedral.

"For me, a major element of liturgical prayer has always been music, and music is not a nice additional element that we add to the liturgy, music is an integral element of our liturgical prayer," he said. "I’ve always been very committed to developing that aspect of our Church’s worship."

Toward that end, he created an after-school program for students, beginning in 1990 with 70 students. Six years later, after a positive feasibility study, Bishop George H. Niederauer approved formation of the Madeleine Choir School.

"The choir school was created with the intent of raising musicians who would then serve the church in liturgy in our various parishes," Glenn said, adding that he has always marveled at the quality of European choir schools "but I never thought it would be a reality here. To be honest, I thought that was an impossible task."

The school opened in 1996 with 108 students in grades 4-8; Glenn was named the director. Classrooms were in the Cathedral basement. In 2002, after a successful capital campaign, the school moved to its current location, 205 E. 1st Ave. in Salt Lake City, former site of Rowland Hall. This year’s enrollment is about 330 students in grades K-8. Glenn is now the pastoral administrator, and he continues to teach theology to grades 7-8, as he has since the school opened.

Now, after 25 years, Glenn chooses to look forward rather than rest on his laurels. "There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done with the school to enable its successful work in the future and its contribution to the life of the Church," he said.

WHAT: Gala Congar

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 17, 630-9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church’s Holy Family Hall, 1375 E. Spring Lane, SLC

TICKETS: $40 donation, available online at www.dioslc.or or contact Susan.Northway@dioslc.org, 801-328-8641 ext. 326