Monsignor Fitzgerald feted at retirement parties

Intermountain Catholic

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Sharing a laugh at the retirement party given by the diocesan priests for Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald are (clockwise) the Most Rev. George H. Niederauer, former Bishop of Salt Lake City and now Archbishop of San Francisco; the guest of honor; Monsignor Terence M. Moore, pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish; Father Peter Do, associate pastor of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish/Newman Center; and Monsignor Victor Bonnell, pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish.

Colleagues, co-workers and friends gathered Sunday and Monday at the bishop’s residence to honor Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, who is retiring after 49 years as a priest in the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Msgr. Fitzgerald has served in numerous positions over the years; he currently is the diocese’s vicar general.

The gatherings were the first of several planned to show appreciation for Msgr. Fitzgerald before he retires on June 3.

Sunday’s event was organized by the diocese’s religious women and included a smattering of other special guests, all of whom are friends of Msgr. Fitzgerald: Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Barbara; the Right Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Salt Lake City; Pastor France Davis of Calvary Baptist Church; Scott and Sidney Parker; and Irene Sweeney, who has long been a supporter of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the Catholic Foundation of Utah.

Elder Ballard, Pastor Davis and Scott Parker all have worked with Msgr. Fitzgerald in various community affairs. For example, under Parker’s direction, Intermountain Healthcare established a foundation that supports area clinics for the poor; IHC also donated the building on 300 South that now houses Catholic Community Services.

"In many ways, tonight’s initial opening celebration can be seen as one that marks the fidelity of Msgr. Fitzgerald," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, in his remarks on Sunday. He added that Msgr. Fitzgerald has been successful in both his ministry and fealty to the Church.

The evening was filled not only with toasts but with humor. Holy Cross Sister Martha Ann Norwood, president of the Sisters Council, led her fellow religious in an Irish blessing that asked God to turn the hearts of those who don’t love Msgr. Fitzgerald, "and if He doesn’t turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles so you will know them by their limping."

In addition, Sr. Martha Ann said the sisters pondered on the retirement gift to give Msgr. Fitzgerald, who has been "a good friend for all of the sisters…and has done so much. We had grandiose ideas, but remember, we have a vow of poverty, so we had to think small. Very small."

She then presented Msgr. Fitzgerald, who doesn’t golf, with a golf ball and a tee, saying that he could take suggestions on their use from Bishop Wester and Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, who will succeed Msgr. Fitzgerald as vicar general.

That type of humor continued on Monday night, when the diocesan priests gathered to celebrate the retirement of not only Msgr. Fitzgerald but also three other priests: Monsignor Victor Bonnell, pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish; Monsignor Rudolph Daz, pastor of Saint Olaf Parish; and Monsignor Michael Winterer, pastor of Christ the King Parish.

Msgr. Bircumshaw gave Msgr. Fitzgerald several cookbooks as a retirement present because he said Msgr. Fitzgerald has never cooked a meal in his condo.

But Msgr. Bircumshaw also gave compliments. "No matter what Terry faces, he always does it with a gentlemanliness and he’s always kind," he said. "One of the things I’m always amazed at is that it’s never about him, it’s always about the Church. It’s always about how can he put things into a system so they will last into the future."

Several of the priests recalled Msgr. Fitzgerald’s kindness to the Most Rev. Joseph L. Federal, who was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Salt Lake in 1951 and was named bishop in 1962. Bishop Federal died in 2000, but prior to that Msgr. Fitzgerald visited him almost daily at St. Joseph Villa.

"Msgr. Fitzgerald continues Bishop Federal’s policy of trying to see everybody who comes to see him as soon as he can, and spend as much time as needed with them," said Msgr. Bonnell. "It’s a sign that he values priests more than meetings or e-mails or telephone calls. And I thank him for that. The Church, this diocese, our bishops have been blessed to have Terry as vicar general and to have him as a priest. He’s a solid rock. He has been a mainstay and I have been blessed to call him a friend."

Among those who toasted Msgr. Fitzgerald was the Most Rev. George H. Niederauer, who served as Bishop of Salt Lake City from 1995 to 2006 and now is Archbishop of San Francisco. "When we are troubled, when we are in difficultly, when we don’t know quite which way to go, (Msgr. Fitzgerald) is a companion and a guide in many, many ways," Archbishop Niederauer said. "When we have much to share, much to celebrate, he is there with us as well. I think that’s the definition of a churchman: somebody who puts the Church first."

Msgr. Fitzgerald, the archbishop said, is "a man who gave his life so the Church would live and thrive, and for that, Terry, thank you very much."