Saint Joseph sophomores tour diocesan offices

The sophomores took the UTA train from Ogden to Salt Lake and arrived at the offices at around 9 a.m. The Vicar General, Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, started off the day by introducing himself to the students and giving a brief summary of not only what he does but also what else goes on in the day-to-day life at the diocese. The students then talked to Reverend Javier Virgen, the vicar for Hispanic Affairs and associate vocations director, and Deacon Ricardo Arias of the Hispanic Affairs office about vocations.

"Its important for our students to visit these offices," said Deacon Doug Smith, the Chaplin at Saint Joseph Catholic High School. "How do I get you (the students) involved if I don’t show you the possibilities and depth of the Church beyond going to Mass?"

Deacon Smith and Peter Halloran, the sophomore theology teacher, planned the sophomore retreat.

The sophomores then toured the offices, learning what each office does and how it contributes to the Catholic community.

"(Visiting the offices) made me realize how much of my faith is rooted in tradition, which means a lot," said Connor Letendre, a student at St. Joseph Catholic High School. "Everything we do is not arbitrary; there is true meaning behind it."

The highlight of the visit was the presence of Bishop John C. Wester during lunch. He talked to the students about his duties as bishop, and how he came to his vocation.

"It was very interesting listening to the bishop tell stories about himself that relate to kids my age," Letendre said.

After lunch the students were given a tour of the Cathedral of the Madeline by Deacon Lynn Johnson. He explained the history, artwork, and masonry of the cathedral.

"So much Christian faith is connected through the symbolism of the artwork," Deacon Johnson said. "There is so much effort put into the artwork. Look at the ceiling, All the masonry is made with a lot of effort so that when we look up we see how big God is and never forget how tiny we are in comparison. When we look up we see something outside of this world. Heaven."

Peter Halloran, the sophomore theology teacher who helped plan the trip, said, "It’s a really neat opportunity to see the cathedral and the roots (of the diocese). I’m very excited to do this again next year."