Centennial celebration opens with a Civic Service

Intermountain Catholic

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Just as Bishop Lawrence Scanlan did for the opening of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in 1909, the Most Rev. John C. Wester, the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, welcomed dignitaries, priests, deacons, religious, guests, and lay people to the Cathedral for a Centennial Civic Service Celebration in thanksgiving for 100 years of service to the community.

SALT LAKE CITY — "For the past 100 years we have celebrated the generous support we have received from the larger Utah community working together with us in our efforts to care for the poor, the sick, assisting immigrants finding their way, educating and forming young people, and enabling the enriching and civilizing work of the arts and humanities," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

"We are grateful for the presence this evening of The Honorable Ignacio Rios Navarro, Mexican Consul to Utah; The Honorable Peter Corroon, Mayor Salt Lake County; and Dr. Michael K. Young, president of the University of Utah," said Bishop Wester. "I am deeply honored by the presence and participation this evening of President Thomas S. Monson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife."

Bishop Wester also welcomed the First Presidency of the LDS Church and their wives. Bishop Wester said he was appreciative of President Monson’s support and encouragement in our centennial year. Bishop Wester also welcomed his own mother to this civic service.

Also in attendance were Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, homeless advocate Pamela Atkinson, and Episcopal priest Rev. Caryl Marsh.

The evening was filled with beautiful song and music provided by the Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir and Madeleine Choir School Choristers, and the El Coro Hispano de la Catedral directed by Gregory Glenn, founder of the Madeleine Choir School. The evening also included scripture readings, educational and historical talks, and processions of gifts in honor of the centennial and its deep history of service to the community.

"Tonight we give thanks for the many blessings in almighty God who has enabled this Church and its tireless works to contribute to the cultural and social fabric of this wonderful and great state of Utah. We also pray that this great legacy of faith and service will continue with a new vigor as we face many contemporary challenges together, and we offer this prayer to our patron Saint Mary Magdalene," prayed Bishop Wester.

Dr. Young said the Catholic community brings to this valley a legacy of service, a faithful dedication, and a cultural refinement, which gives us all hope, inspiration, and life. The Cathedral as well represents the beautiful contributions the Church has made in Utah over so many years.

"This Cathedral has often played a major role in telling the story of the town with its stained glass windows, inscriptions, paintings, and educators, who teach about God, faith, and religion," said Young. "Bishop (Lawrence) Scanlan came to Utah in 1873, with very little support or resources, yet he embraced the challenge and worked relentlessly to build missions for the faithful. A couple years after his arrival, and probably his most important act, was his opening of St. Mary’s Academy, and soon thereafter Holy Cross Hospital. He said some 13 decades later, Holy Cross Sister Catherine Kamphaus continues to serve as the superintendent of Catholic schools.

Young credited the Holy Cross Sisters for their part in the education of the students and the community.

"I looked at the number of educational institutions started under the auspices of this Cathedral, and it is 11 different educational institutions, within a 133-year history starting as early as 1876," said Young. "It included the St. Joseph School for Boys at the St. Mary’s Academy site. It also included the Holy Cross School of Nursing, which was in existence for almost 75 years. It includes the Catholic grammar school in the Cathedral basement and the Cathedral High School, which started in 1922, and is now Judge Memorial Catholic High School. So to this day, the great legacy of education continues.

"We are here today to give thanks to Bishop Scanlan’s incomparable example of service, dedication, and profound subtleness to care, his work ethic, and a heart as big as the territory of Utah itself," said Young.

President Monson said the Cathedral in its magnificent structure has been a vibrant and integral part of Salt Lake City. He said he has spoken in the Cathedral on many occasions at funerals, and during changes in leadership.

"Several years ago I visited the Saint Vincent de Paul Center and Weigand Day Center along with former Mayor Palmer DePaulis, Fr. Terence Moore (then executive director of Catholic Community Services, now Msgr. Moore), and representatives of the LDS Welfare Department.

"Our hearts were warmed when we saw the greater good organizations accomplish, especially when they work together," said Monson. "When the spirit of good will and united efforts go to work on a common problem the results can be most satisfying.

Monson said at the time when the St. Vincent Center burned, they rallied together to replace and restore the center for its ongoing operation to feed the poor. Bishop William K. Weigand, then bishop of the diocese, thanked those who contributed, and blessed the new site. He sprinkled Monson with holy water, and later with a rye smile, said ‘It didn’t seem to hurt you any, did it?’

Monson said the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to furnish food, funds, and volunteers to assist Catholic Charities in feeding the hungry. They also continue to provide bread, lunch meat, and condiments for the Good Samaritan Program at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

Monson said, "All that you need will be supplied for the Good Samaritan Program. In addition we provide food for those being treated at CCS’ St. Mary’s Substance Abuse Facility and Food Pantry. We send hygiene kits, furniture, and beds for refugees in the CCS Resettlement Program.

"Over the years, CCS has helped the LDS Church distribute $11.2 million in humanitarian aide," said Monson. "Opportunities to assist others are still very much at hand. Our churches with a tradition of kindness, caring, and cooperative effort, will meet the needs by all of us working together for such a noble cause."

CCS’ Executive Director Brad Drake, his wife Sally, Maureen Maus, a volunteer for the Good Samaritan Program, and Jose Lazaro, director of the Weigand Center, brought forth gifts for the poor to present to Bishop Wester.

Mayor Corroon said the Cathedral of the Madeleine has served Utah in many different ways and touched the lives of many Utahns. It has been the focal point of the Catholic Church in Utah for 100 years.

"But it serves more than the Catholic community," said Corroon. "It serves the entire community of our state through its wonderful cultural, educational, musical, and charitable programs. For me as a Catholic, I became familiar with the Cathedral through my twin brother in making sandwiches to give to the poor. I started attending Mass here. I was married in the Cathedral, and now 10 years later, our three children attend the Madeleine Choir School.

"I am proud to be associated with the Cathedral, its staff, priests, monsignors, and Bishop Wester, as well as the wonderful citizens whom I have come to know. It will continue to be an important religious, educational, social, and community asset for years to come for all Utahns.

Navarro, the Consul of Mexico, said I would like to recognize this extra ordinary and sacred place – the Cathedral of the Madeleine. I would like to express my obligation for those people who worked hard to create one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the United States today.

"The presence of the Catholic Church in Utah goes back to 1776, when Franciscan missionaries Dominguez and Escalante arrived here."

Navarro went on to recount the history of how more Franciscan priests arrived in the Utah territory and how it came about that property was selected and purchased for the first Catholic Church in Utah. Archbishop Alemany of San Francisco traveled to Utah for the dedication on Nov. 26, 1871, and the new church was named in honor of St. Mary Magdalene.

Navarro said in 1891, Pope Leo XIII named (Consecrated Vicar Apostolic of Utah) Lawrence Scanlan the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Salt Lake City Jan. 30, 1891. The diocese included all of Utah, and seven counties of southern and western Nevada. It became the largest diocese in the size of its territory in the United States."

Navarro said the new territory required labor force, so 5,000 Mexican workers were hired for mining, seasonal farming, and construction work. All of them were trying to find a better life for themselves and their families, much like today. As of today, more than 350,000 Hispanics live in Utah.