Parishioners let Fr. Mike know he is loved

Intermountain Catholic

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Msgr. Michael Winterer (left) and Bishop John C. Wester examine the handmade box that was given to Msgr. Winterer by the Christ the King Parish Catholic Women's Council as a parting gift. In the background to the left are Msgr. Winterer's brother and sister-in-law, Tony and Darlene Winterer. IC photo/Marie Mischel

CEDAR CITY —Monsignor Michael Winterer has spent 51 years as a priest for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, the last 14 as pastor of Christ the King Parish in Cedar City. Now, as his Aug. 3 retirement nears, his parishioners are showing "Fr. Mike" their appreciation. At his retirement party July 10, he was showered with gifts, music and testimonials.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, presided at the Mass preceding the party. The Mass was concelebrated by Msgr. Winterer; Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general of the diocese; Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general emeritus; Monsignor Robert J. Bussen, who will replace Msgr. Winterer as pastor at Christ the King Parish; and Father Robert Puhlman, pastor of La Virgen de Guadalupe Parish in the Diocese of Las Vegas.

"Ever since I’ve been in this part of the country, Msgr. Mike has always made me feel very, very welcome," offering invitations to gatherings of priests in southern Utah, Fr. Puhlman said, adding that Msgr. Mike has shown "total commitment as a disciple of Jesus Christ."

Bishop Wester agreed. "He has made it a point to remind us that God is love and he or she who abides in love abides in God and God in that person," the bishop said at the party, "and certainly his love for us is quite palpable in this room today."

Much of Msgr. Winterer’s priestly career has been served in the Diocese of Salt Lake’s missions. "Several of the missions in this southern part of the state are the result of his evangelizing, his tremendous dedication," Msgr. Fitzgerald said. He then presented Msgr. Winterer with a lantern, a symbolic gift. "For Msgr. Mike, Jesus Christ has been the light of his life, and he in turn has been the light in the lives of so many thousands of others," Msgr. Fitzgerald said.

Among the other speakers at the event was Susan Wiltsie-Smith, pastor of Saint Jude Episcopal Church in Cedar City, who worked with Msgr. Mike on interfaith issues. Originally she was scared to meet him, she said, because she was unsure whether he would dismiss her as a priest because she’s a woman, but "Mike has been most gentle; he always treated me as an equal and that was the most honorable thing. I stood taller for knowing Mike," she said.

Gerald Vaniwaarden, pastor of Cedar City’s Westview Christian Center, represented the Cedar Area Interfaith Alliance at the retirement party, and said it has been a pleasure working with Msgr. Winterer. He also made a request. "Bishop Wester, I would like to have you have Fr. Mike mentor younger priests coming into the priesthood so that they can relate to communities and other religious leaders in the same dedicated way, with integrity, that Fr. Mike has," he said.

Several gifts were given to Msgr. Winterer at the party. Sally Pope, president of the parish’s Catholic Women’s Council, gave him a handmade wooden box containing a wallet filled with money. Ed Hartry, the local Knights of Columbus Council’s Grand Knight, presented him with a thank-you plaque and a ceremonial sword.

"Fr. Mike has told us many times that we are loved. What we really knew was that we were blessed: You were here among us," said Bill Lund, president of the Christ the King parish council, during his presentation.

Pat Sproul, chairwoman of the event, bestowed upon Msgr. Winterer a book with photos of personalized messages created by parishioners. "They’re in the book for you to look at while you’re sitting on the banks of Hell’s Canyon having a heavenly time without us," she said.

Msgr. Winterer thanked his parishioners for helping to form him as a priest. "I ask you to continue to pray for this old bird and all the other priests in the diocese," he said. "We need your prayers to be the priests that we are."