Diocesan Development Drive thanks workers and donors

Intermountain Catholic

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The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, speaks at the DDD celebration dinner on Oct. 20. The banner behind him displays the 2012 theme: With all our hearts, we give thanks. IC photo/Marie Mischel

SALT LAKE CITY — As the end of the year draws near, the books are closing on the 2011 Diocesan Development Drive, which provides operating funds for Bishop John C. Wester’s nine ministries, nine programs and 10 services. These include everything from the diocesan Marriage Tribunal and rural mission outreach to liturgical training and hospital ministry.

This year, parishioners throughout the diocese pledged $1.98 million, of which $1.69 million has been paid as of Oct. 20.

Many of the pledges come because of the drives at individual parishes, which are coordinated by parishioners from those parishes. Bishop Wester and Shannon Lee, director of the Diocesan Development Drive office, thanked those workers at a dinner Oct. 20.

"I’m so very grateful for all of your hard work," Bishop Wester told those at the dinner. "I’ve seen some of the same faces year in and year out, so I know that you’re very dedicated to this work and I really, really appreciate all that you do. You’re a wonderful inspiration to all of us in the time that you share with us and your talents that you share with us. And it means a great deal to our brothers and sisters in Christ."

Funds from the DDD help support the diocese’s retired priests, Utah Catholic Schools, vocations and many other programs, Bishop Wester said.

"When I look out at you tonight, that’s what I see – people who really make our diocese work," he added. "You are the backbone of the diocese. You put your faith into action."

Donations to the DDD help the directors of diocesan departments further the mission of the Catholic Church in Utah, said Lee, who also acknowledged that asking for pledges can be hard work.

"It’s difficult to ask people for their hard-earned money during these still tough economic times," she said. "But that isn’t exactly what we’ve been doing this past year, is it? What we have been doing is asking people of faith to engage in the mission of the Catholic Church in Utah. It is inviting people to become involved in something greater than themselves."

Two of the many diocesan programs supported by DDD were highlighted at the dinner.

Jean Hill, government liaison and director of the Peace and Justice Commission, said that both she and the commission members represent all Catholics in Utah as they work to "educate Catholics, motivate Catholics and inspire Catholics to bring Catholic social teaching to their parishes, to bring it to their daily life and to really put their faith into practice."

As government liaison, "my job is to remind legislators of the human side of what they do – to bring them the moral and ethical perspective, and to represent all of us Catholics in Utah," Hill said. "I’m very grateful to all of you who make it possible for me and the commission to do what we do."

Seminarian Christopher Gray, who is studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, said in a video presentation that he is grateful to the people of the Diocese of Salt Lake City for his educational opportunities. Rome "affords students a universal picture of life in the Church," he said. "There are students in my classes who come from Africa, who come from Asia. We talk to each other and learn each other’s stories…. We see images of the church that are far beyond what we would even be able to imagine just from our own experience. That is what is amazing about a Roman education. Yes, the school is very famous. Yes, the education is fantastic, but … it’s the people themselves that are the most amazing, who are the finest source of the education."