Pastor Assignments/Father Christopher Gray

Friday, Jul. 04, 2025

Father Christopher Gray was born in Stockton, Calif. After his family moved to Utah, he attended The Madeleine Choir School and Judge Memorial Catholic High School. While studying at the University of Utah, he worked at the Intermountain Catholic as a staff writer and associate editor. He then entered Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon and finished his seminary education at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. 

He was ordained a priest on June 29, 2013, by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, ninth Bishop of Salt Lake City. After ordination, he spent a few months as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Madeleine before returning to Rome to complete an advanced degree in sacred theology. Coming back to Utah, he served as parochial vicar of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City and at the cathedral before being appointed pastor of Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City and Saint Lawrence Mission in Heber.

In addition to his pastoral assignments Fr. Gray has served as dean of the Salt Lake Deanery since 2021, and president of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Salt Lake City since 2024.  

Beginning Aug. 1, he will be the rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

Throughout his life, he has always been very close to the cathedral and its community, Fr. Gray said.

“First as a boy chorister, then working for the Intermountain Catholic, and also as a priest,” he said. “The very first Sunday I sang at the cathedral for vespers, when I was 11 years old, was a transformational experience for me – the first of many.”

His vocation as a priest has been deeply formed by the liturgy of the cathedral, “and it is an honor to assume this new role at this place I have loved for so long,” he said. “I am deeply grateful for the confidence Bishop Solis has shown me in allowing me to share in his ministry in this way.”

Helping to guide and form others in their appreciation of the spiritual life gives him a great deal of joy, he said. “Otherwise, I enjoy hiking and vintage computing.” 

As this new chapter in his ministry opens, Fr. Gray is looking forward to the many events that the cathedral hosts, he said.

“One of the upcoming events I’m most excited about is this year’s Bishop’s Dinner Sept. 2, and especially welcoming the Most Rev. George Leo Thomas [Archbishop of Las Vegas] to Salt Lake City for this wonderful evening,” he said.

Fr. Gray met Archbishop Thomas  at the celebration that formally marked the creation of the Ecclesiastical Province of Las Vegas in May 2023, “and have been constantly edified by his leadership, and I look forward to sharing him with our diocese,” he said.

Fr. Gray also said that he hopes that many his former parishioners of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish and the new ones at the cathedral “will generously support this year’s Bishop’s Dinner and join us for this very special occasion.”