Members of Bishop’s Leadership Society thanked

Friday, Aug. 15, 2025

SALT LAKE CITY — “The Church in Utah is kept alive by the generous support of people like you.” 

That was the message of Bishop Oscar A. Solis to members of the Bishop’s Leadership Society, whose members each contribute more than $1,000 yearly to the Diocesan Development Drive.

The DDD is the annual bishop’s appeal; donations fund the diocese’s 31 ministries, programs and services, which include seminarian education, deacon formation and support for rural parishes.

On Aug. 1, the Office of Stewardship and Development hosted a dinner at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish to thank members of the Bishop’s Leadership Society. The theme for the gathering was Pilgrims of Hope, which “emphasizes the journey of faith, and the role of faith in navigating life’s challenges,” Bishop Solis said at the prayer service that preceded the dinner.

Music ministry at the service was provided by Father Kenneth Parsad, parochial vicar of Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish, and Father Andre Sicard, parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Fr. Parsad was ordained in June; Fr. Sicard was ordained in 2023.

In his homily, the bishop said, “Generosity is the heart of stewardship,” and added that those present “are the bearers of the good news of salvation. You are instruments to manifest the presence of Christ in our world.” 

Among the clergy at the gathering were Father John Evans, vicar general; Father Kenneth Vialpando, vicar for clergy; and Deacon John Kranz, chancellor. Father Samuel Dinsdale, pastor of St. Vincent’s, blessed the meal. 

At the dinner, Shannon Lee, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development, gave an update on the 2025 Diocesan Development Drive.  

“Last year at this time, we had a total paid amount of $1.7 million,” she said. “This year, we’re at $1.5 million, so we are trending a little bit behind, but I have faith and hope that the next five months, we’re going to be able to do a lot of work and bring in the money that basically needs to run, to help run the ministries, programs and services.”

Members of the Bishop’s Leadership Society “in your typical generous fashion, you have provided over 50 percent of the total amount received,” she said.

The speakers for the evening are among those who benefit from the DDD.

Rogationist Father Carlos Guzman, director of the diocesan Office of Vocations as well as administrator of Saint Ann Parish in Salt Lake City, said he believes “every vocation is a gift from God. It’s a grace, and likewise, it’s an investment. The investment is expressed in our capacity to share our giftedness, our resources, and our time, and in our presence.”

He then introduced Fr. Parsad and Fr. Sicard.

“Well, you’re looking at your investment,” said Fr. Parsad, to laughter from his audience.

The diocese pays for seminarians’ education, which is something that he never took for granted, he said. “I would not be here without you, without your generosity. So thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. If you like what you see, please continue to give. If you don’t like what you see, maybe you can give even more.”

Fr. Sicard added his thanks, explaining that he has studied for 10 years, first as a seminarian and then as a priest, to be ordained and obtain a canon law degree. He quoted Canon 222, which states that the faithful have a duty to provide for the needs of the Church, and added, “I’m here today to thank you for going above and beyond that duty of offering your support and your love and through your generous support of the DDD. … All the [academic]  degrees I’ve gotten is for the service of the local Church here in Utah, for the service of you. And so know that I’m here to serve you, but also to learn from you and to just thank you and learn from your generous hearts about what it means to give and to be stewards of hope here in the diocese.”

The main speaker for the evening was Deacon Scott Dodge, who was ordained in 2004 and serves at Saint Olaf Parish in Bountiful. He also is director of the Office of the Diaconate.

DDD funds support diaconal formation, he said, adding that he always tells the bishop “that we’re a great value. He can get about six deacons for the price of one priest.”

Due to the generosity of those who give to the DDD, “our diocese is able to form deacons and to pay for that formation, which I have no doubt has enabled the ordination of many wonderful deacons who likely would not have been able to afford to pay for their own formation, and deacons who came from parishes who couldn’t afford that formation,” Deacon Dodge said. “So it’s an important endeavor, and there really are concrete results that come about from your giving.”

In his final comments, Bishop Solis thanked the members of the Leadership Society for being “critical givers” who see to it that the Diocese of Salt Lake City “will continue to remain afloat to carry out the mission that Christ has entrusted to us: to proclaim the Gospel of love and salvation, especially to the people of Utah.”