Professional Educator Day honors a priest and a religious

Friday, Mar. 20, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — Father Erik Richtsteig, pastor of Saint James the Just Parish in Ogden, received the Christ the Teacher award; and Holy Cross Sister Genevra Rolf, Utah Catholic Schools associate superintendent, was  presented with the Jesus and the Children Award during the Professional Educator Day Mass at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish March 13.

The Mass was concelebrated by Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general and the main celebrant; Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus; Father John Norman, St. Vincent de Paul Parish pastor and homilist; Father Martin Diaz, Cathedral of the Madeleine pastor; Father J.J. Schwall, Our Lady of Lourdes pastor, Salt Lake City; and Fr. Richtsteig. 

Msgr. Bircumshaw presented the Christ the Teacher award. 

Fr. Richtsteig is the first recipient who has been a pastor whose parish has not included a school, Msgr. Bircumshaw said. “I think it makes it very significant,” he said. 

When Msgr. Bircumshaw was the pastor in Price and at Notre Dame School, pastor at St. Joseph in Ogden and the elementary and high school and at St. Ann Parish and Kearns-Saint Ann School, “Fr. Erik was always extremely supportive,” he said. “There were many times I was wishing the other pastors showed the same enthusiasm and immediate support of the schools. Although Fr. Erik hasn’t had the opportunity yet to be pastor of a parish with a school, this is a symbolism and encouragement for all of our pastors of what can be done even if you don’t have a school.” 

Every parish in the diocese has a school and “every priest is the pastor of a school because the Catholic schools are not an organ of the diocese, they are part of the apostolate of the diocese and of our parishes,” Fr. Richtsteig said. “St. Joseph Catholic Schools is St. James’ parochial school as much as it is St. Joseph’s; I think that that would be true of every school. I would urge my fellow pastors to view all the schools as part of our territory; part of our pastoral outreach so that we can plant the seeds of the Catholic faith, so that we can enable our children to be leaven in the world now.”

Fr. Richtsteig was born and raised in Cedar City, and baptized into the Catholic faith at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in 1981. In 1993, he completed a Master of Divinity degree at Mount Angel Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in June 1995 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. 

Fr. Richtsteig has served in the Diocese of Salt Lake City in parishes in Salt Lake City, Price, Helper, and since 2003 at St. James the Just. While in Salt Lake, he served as a chaplain at the University of Utah Medical Center and the Salt Lake City jail. He currently serves on the Board of St. Joseph Schools in Ogden and “is extremely supportive of the schools,” Sr. Cathy said. 

“Fr. Erik is always quick to volunteer his parish for hosting events related to the school and opens his parish to school retreats and ceremonies,” said Patrick Lambert, St. Joseph Catholic High School principal.  

About 10 years ago the Utah Catholics Schools created the Jesus and the Children Award to honor those  dedicated to Catholic schools; it has been given four times. At the Professional Educator Day, Msgr. Fitzgerald presented this award to Sr. Genevra. 

“It’s a great honor for me to present you with this award as you celebrate your 80th birthday and as you retire as associate superintendent of Catholic schools,” Msgr. Fitzgerald said. “I think there are few people who have given greater witness to the value of Catholic education and that of religious life than you, who have so generously shared your many gifts with the Church, and especially with our schools.” 

Sr. Genevra’s dedication in Catholic education, her role as diocesan liaison for religious women, her service in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and her many personal gifts have all been generous and in the Holy Cross charism wherever she has served, Msgr. Fitzgerald said. 

“During the more than 20 years you have been in Utah, we have come to know you as a wonderful storyteller, a great cook, a lover of cars, the life of the party, an effective advancement director and a school administrator,” he said. “We cherish your celebration of consecrated life, as we honor women and men who have given themselves to religious community and enriched our Church; you are and have been a very joyful and faithful witness to those evangelical councils as a Holy Cross religious.”

Msgr. Fitzgerald honored Sr. Genevra not only for what she has achieved and has done, but what “is more impressive is who you are and, more profoundly, how you have impacted all of us in this community,” he said. “You will always have a place in our hearts.” 

“I started teaching in 1956 and when I see you gathered like this and we pray together, it makes me think I haven’t wasted all that time,” Sr. Genevra said. “Thank you, and continue to carry on the mission of Catholic schools because people like me are ready to retire.”