Diocesan Development Drive kicks off 2010 campaign

Graphic courtesy of DDD

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DDD supports a number of ministries, programs and services throughout Utah. For more information, visit http://dioslcddd.org.

SALT LAKE CITY - The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City has 11 men in the seminary, celebrated the ordination of 21 permanent deacons and the certification of 20 lay ecclesial ministers in January, and anticipates the ordination of two priests in May, so it's fitting that the theme for this year's Diocesan Development Drive (DDD) is "Call to Serve."

"We are all called to serve, some as priests, deacons and lay ecclesial ministers, some as nuns, mothers and fathers, and some as religious education teachers, Eucharistic ministers, music ministers and lectors," the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake said in the DDD's promotional DVD. "The Diocesan Development Drive ensures that all who are called to serve are given the opportunity to live out that service."

The funds support eight ministries, 10 programs and 11 services ranging from the Prison and Detention Ministry to Diaconate Formation to Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery. The DDD is the diocese's primary funding source, said Shannon Lee, DDD director. "We as the people here in Utah are responsible for the diocese," she said. "We're the Church."

A large percentage of the funds support the seminarians; it costs about $30,000 to support one seminarian for one year. One of those is Alejandro Camberos. From Guadalajara, Mexico, Camberos spent four years there in a seminary and two years in the missions, but now is in Salt Lake for a year to study English before transferring to Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. As with all the diocese's seminarians, his room, board, tuition and living expenses all are paid from DDD funds, allowing him to concentrate completely on his studies. That help is crucial for him to fulfill his vocation as a priest, he said.

"Thank you very much for the gift," he said, and he encourages Utah Catholics to give to DDD to have more priests to share with the community, and he invites the young people to follow Christ's call to religious life.

Eighteen years ago, Father Javier Virgen, now the diocese's vicar for Hispanic Affairs, was in a similar situation. "I am very grateful to the Lord, and to the diocese especially, because it is through the DDD program that I was able to finish my studies here in the United States," Fr. Virgen said. He estimates the cost of his three years of study to be about $90,000. "That money - my family in Mexico couldn't make that even if they sold everything they owned."

The Most Rev. William Weigand, then bishop of Salt Lake, ordained Fr. Virgen in his hometown of Estipac, Jalisco, Mexico. "It was actually the first time in my home parish that there took place an ordination," Fr. Virgen said, "so right after that ecclesial event, 10 young men decided to go to the seminary." Of that group, five have been ordained, he added. "It was a great way to promote vocations."

The 2010 DDD kicks off this weekend; the pledge goal is the same amount as last year, $2,030,106.

Despite the economy, local Catholics met the goal in 2009. Compared to previous years, last year more people contributed to the drive, although the amount per donation was less, Lee said. "I think that people saw the need. I think that when people are faced with hardship, we all turn to God. Who else are we going to turn to? He's always there. I think that maybe it made the people who are not having difficulty more appreciative of what they had, knowing that they could share it a little bit. And I think people who could, dug a little deeper, maybe sacrificed a little bit more."

"I am deeply grateful to the men and women of our diocese of Salt Lake City who give so generously to our drive each year," Bishop Wester said. "I recognize that we are in difficult economic times and there are some who continue to struggle with employment and other serious issues related to the economy. Nonetheless, our lay faithful continue to support this local Church and such generosity in this day and age is truly inspiring. These funds support a wide variety of Church activities and make it possible for us to put the gospel of Jesus into action. I cannot think of a more worthy cause."