Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw retires

Friday, Aug. 16, 2024

SALT LAKE CITY — After almost five decades as a priest, the last 13 years of which were served as vicar general of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw has retired. 

“It’s a job that’s more than a job because it is a ministry,” Msgr. Bircumshaw said of the role of vicar general during a July 31 retirement celebration hosted by the diocese. “So often this role is generally seen as kind of the bad cop for the good cop kind of situation. It has to be in some ways, but it’s a ministry.”

Father John Evans took over the position as the vicar general on Aug. 1; his previous assignment was as pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Cottonwood Heights.

A native of Utah, Fr. Bircumshaw was ordained May 30, 1975, in the Cathedral of the Madeleine and then served as parochial vicar at the cathedral. He then pursued doctoral studies in theology in Rome. When he returned to Utah, he became associate pastor of Saint Patrick Parish and a member of the diocesan Liturgical Commission. He went on to serve for two years as rector of his alma mater, the Pontifical College Josephinum seminary in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, he has served several terms on the diocesan Priests’ Personnel Board and as moderator for the Northern Deanery Council of Catholic Women. He was named Prelate of Honor with the title of monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI on Jan. 13, 2009. In 2011 he was appointed as the diocese’s vicar general by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, ninth Bishop of Salt Lake City, now Archbishop of Sante Fe.

At the retirement celebration, Archbishop’s Wester’s successor in this diocese, Bishop Oscar A. Solis, praised Msgr. Bircumshaw’s work.

“We honor him today for his comprehensive knowledge of and love for the Church. He has guided our vision for the future of our diocese. … He is a true servant of God who has dedicated his life to God and the people here in Utah with such enthusiasm and tremendous commitment,” Bishop Solis said.

When he arrived in Utah seven years ago, the bishop found in Msgr. Bircumshaw “someone very special,” he said. “He took a lot of things off my shoulder and that is the reason why you see me smiling all the time.”  

After Bishop Solis’ remarks, fellow priests and several staff members from the pastoral center, Catholic Community Services and Utah Catholic Schools praised Msgr. Bircumshaw for his leadership, wisdom, kindness, patience and friendship.

“Msgr. Bircumshaw has known exactly when to enforce the letter of the law and when to provide the spirit of the law,” said Father Kenneth Vialpando, vicar for clergy. “He’s known exactly when to be firm and when to be gentle. He’s never told us what we wanted to hear but what we needed to hear. He’s never lowered the bar on us. He’s always raised it in order to challenge all of us as priests, lay leaders and staff to be the best ministers that we possibly can.”

“He always respected another person’s opinion, and he was always willing to listen, which to me is the mark of a good leader,” CCS Executive Director Brad Drake said. “But more than all that, Monsignor, I thank you for your friendship. I feel an eternal friendship, and wish you nothing but the best.”

In response, Msgr. Bircumshaw praised those he has worked with over the years.

“The richness of working with you is much like being in church in the faculty of the seminary,” he said. “All I had to do as rector was sprinkle praise generously. That’s how I defined my role as rector, and I hope I’ve done that same thing the same way here basically.”

The staff then presented Msgr. Bircumshaw with a variety of gifts, many humorous, some practical and some spiritual to send him off on his retirement journey.