Bishop's Dinner celebrates the Cathedral of the Madeleine's history and future

SALT LAKE CITY — The Cathedral of the Madeleine has welcomed people from all religions and from all over the world since its dedication in 1909, offering concerts, lectures, religious formation and of course, Mass. It is the mother church of the people of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City and a symbol of their faith. The Cathedral is listed on the Utah Register of Historic Sites and the National Register of Historic Places.

The annual Bishop’s Dinner celebrates the Cathedral community; this year, the guest speaker is the Very Rev. Rick Lawson, dean of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral.

A solid friendship exists between the Catholic Church and other faiths in Salt Lake City, said Father Lawson, who has been dean since 1992; he was made a canon in 1986.

“I am not a stranger to the Cathedral of the Madeleine,” he said. “We are sister churches, we are sister cathedrals.”

Fr. Lawson has a close relationship with Msgr. Joseph M. Mayo, pastor of the Cathedral; Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, the vicar general and vicar for clergy; and the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, he said.

“We serve the community in a variety of ways and it’s important that the community is represented in the Bishop’s Dinner,” he said.

Fr. Lawson will address the necessity of preserving and maintaining the Cathedral of the Madeleine and how this can be done through a financial effort, he said.

This year, the Bishop’s Dinner will be Sept. 22 at the Grand America Hotel.

“All are most cordially invited to this splendid fall event to be with our bishop, the Most Reverend John C. Wester,” said Msgr. Mayo.

Bishop’s Dinner for The Cathedral of the Madeleine

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 22

WHERE: Grand America Hotel, 555 S. Main St., Salt Lake City

TIME: 6 p.m.

For tickets for the Bishop’s Dinner, contact Laurel Dokos, ldokos@saltlakecathedral.org or 801-328-8941 ext 108. For information, visit

www.saltlakecathedral.org/bishops-dinner.