The Intermountain Catholic’s 2024 Year in Review

Friday, Dec. 27, 2024

SALT LAKE CITY — The ordination of a priest and two deacons, several new priests coming to minister in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, and participation in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage were among the many notable events of 2024 for Catholics in Utah. Following are some of the highlights of the year.

Lorena Needham began as the director for the Diocese of Salt Lake City Office of Worship on Jan. 10, and Michael Edwards began as director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry on Jan. 22.

On Jan. 19 the Cathedral of the Madeleine hosted the seventh annual Mass for Life, with participants praying for an end to abortion, for those children lost to abortion, and for all those involved in abortion.

Students from Utah Catholic Schools joined others from private schools in the state at a rally at the State Capitol Jan. 24 to thank legislators for passing a bill to fund the Utah Fits All scholarship program, which provides scholarships to students who attend private schools or who are home-schooled.

Two Eucharistic Revival retreats were held Jan. 27, one at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem, the other at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in West Jordan.

More than 50 couples attended the Marriage Celebration and Mass held Feb. 9 at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Holladay.

St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School broke ground for a new addition on Feb. 12. The space will house a full-sized gymnasium, computer and science labs, an art studio and spaces for other programs such as speech therapy.

The deacon Class of 2004 celebrated their 20th anniversary of ordination on Jan. 22; the celebration included a Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine with Bishop Oscar A. Solis presiding, followed by a dinner.

The Judge Memorial Catholic High School swim team claimed its fourth consecutive state championship for the boys and the third for the girls at the state meet, held Feb. 16-17 at Brigham Young University.

Diocesan liturgical ministers gathered March 2 for a four-hour meeting to discuss how to create inviting and uplifting liturgies.

St. Olaf School celebrated the dedication of its new 16,000-square-foot addition on March 18.

On March 24, Our Lady of the Snow chapel celebrated its 30th year of having Masses in the building, which is also used as a community center for the town of Alta.

On March 19, Father Carlos Guzman RCJ and Father Ryan Jimenez, RCJ began ministering in the diocese. The two Rogationist priests, who are from the Philippines, are ministering at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sandy.

Dr. Galey Colosimo, principal of Juan Diego Catholic High School, was presented with the Leonard F. DeFiore Parental Choice Advocate Award by the National Catholic Educational Association on April 1.

The Catholic Foundation of Utah celebrated its 40th anniversary with a brunch at St. Thomas More Parish in Cottonwood Heights on April 13. The CFU manages more than 400 endowments that provide funding for parishes, mission, schools and programs in the diocese.

Father Rodelio Ignacio, administrator of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sandy, returned to the Philippines because his visa had not been renewed. A farewell reception was celebrated for him on April 13.

Joe Bouley, a St. Olaf parishioner, was presented with the St. George Award on April 5. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth in Scouting. It is presented by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. He also was given the Boy Scouts of America Silver Antelope Award on May 7 for his distinguished service to youth.

More than 500 youth gathered for the Blessed Carlo Acutis Youth Rally held April 20 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. The rally was one of several held throughout the year, sponsored by the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and the Carlo Acutis Apostolate to help youth deepen their faith.

Father John Evans was appointed vicar general for the diocese. The announcement was made May 6; the appointment became effective Aug. 1.

Author Megan Nix presented “Waiting Through the Deserts of Life” at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish on May 23.

The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage arrived in Utah on May 31. After a Mass celebrated at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Preston, Idaho, by Bishop Peter Christensen of Boise, Fr. John Evans, representing the Diocese of Salt Lake City, accepted the monstrance that carried the Eucharist for the pilgrims traveling on the St. Junipero Serra Route of the pilgrimage. Leaving Idaho, the pilgrimage traveled to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Hyde Park, where the pilgrims and local Catholics participated in an all-night Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a morning Mass.

On June 2, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage was in Park City, where there were two processions, Eucharistic adoration and Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish.

On June 3, the Cathedral of the Madeleine held an Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage; then the Eucharist was carried in procession to St. Catherine of Siena Parish, where Mass was celebrated.

On June 3, Father Gregory Ezeanya began ministering as a chaplain for Holy Cross Hospitals along the Wasatch Front.

On June 4, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage traveled to the Uinta Basin, where Bishop Oscar A. Solis celebrated Mass on the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation.

On June 5, St. James the Greater Parish in Vernal celebrated Mass for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage; the pilgrims then continued to Colorado. 

Father Martin Diaz threw out the first pitch for the inaugural Catholic Day at the Salt Lake Bees on June 7.

St. Mary Parish in West Haven hosted a parish mission focusing on the Eucharist. Father Thomas Czeck gave the mission, which was presented June 17-19. 

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Kearns celebrated its 30th anniversary with a Mass at which Bishop Oscar A. Solis presided and the Most Rev. Thomas Thanh Thai Nguyen, auxiliary bishop of Orange, was the homilist.

Father Anthony Shumway was ordained to the priesthood and the Rev. Mr. Odilon Jesse Ricardez and the Rev. Mr. Juan E. Biaggini were ordained to the diaconate on June 28.

Eight novices with the Western Dominican Province visited Salt Lake City the weekend of June 29.

On July 10, the relic of St. Mary Magdalene was stolen from the Cathedral of the Madeleine. The relic has never been recovered.

Pilgrims from the Diocese of Salt Lake City attended the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Ind. July 17-21; the event was the culmination of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival.

The Hillbilly Thomists performed a concert at St. Mary of the Assumption in Park City on July 26.

Father David McGuire began serving as the new wing chaplain at 75th Air Base Wing, Hill Air Force Base. This is his second assignment at the base.

August 

Msgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw, a priest of the diocese who ministered for almost five decades, the last 13 as vicar general of the diocese, retired on Aug. 1.

Catholics attended the prayer vigil outside the Utah State Correctional Facility on Aug. 7 in protest of the execution of Taberon Honie.

Leylahni Munguia Ayon, a parishioner of St. James the Greater in Vernal, received the Golden Rose Award from the National Council of Catholic Women during the Aug. 13-17 convention. 

Father Joven Opalda, a priest from the Philippines, began ministering in the diocese on Aug. 23.

Sister Mary Ann Pajakowski, CSC, who has been working with Holy Cross Ministries of Utah, retired in September. Her departure leaves the organization without a Holy Cross sister on its staff for the first time since it was formed in 1994.

Sister Norma Pimentel, MJ, was the keynote speaker at the Sept. 19 Autumn Harvest Benefit for Holy Cross Ministries of Utah.

The Utah Catholic Conference, held for the first time this year, brought more than 800 people to the Skaggs Catholic Center on Sept. 21. The conference was a new format for what had previously been called the Pastoral Congress.

On Sept. 24, members of the Catholic Extension Society visited two missions in the southern part of the diocese: San Pablo Mission in Beryl Junction and Our Lady of the Light Mission in Beaver.

On Sept. 26, Bishop Oscar A. Solis presided at the Mass that began the 25th anniversary celebrations for the Skaggs Catholic Center, which is home to Saint John the Baptist Parish, Juan Diego Catholic High School, St. John the Baptist elementary and middle schools, and Guardian Angel Daycare. 

On Oct. 7, the Intermountain Catholic celebrated its 125th anniversary of publication.

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Western USA held its annual meeting in the diocese Oct. 10-13; among the events was an Oct. 13 Mass in the Cathedral of the Madeleine at which Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles presided. The concelebrants included Roger Cardinal Mahony, Archbishop emeritus of Los Angeles and Bishop Oscar A. Solis of Salt Lake City.

Equipping the Saints, an evangelical Christian ministry, hosted the “Holy Fire Rally” for middle-school youth Oct. 12 at Holy Family Parish in Ogden. 

On Oct. 16, Father Southan Star Alban, a priest from India, began ministering in the diocese; he is temporarily assigned to the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

The Arm of St. Jude the Apostle, a relic of the saint, visited St. Ambrose Parish Oct. 19.

Father José Barrera-Hernandez, pastor of San Felipe Parish, began transmitting a Sunday Mass in Spanish over the radio; he also is offering an early-morning radio show on Mondays.

On Oct. 26, St. Patrick Parish celebrated the dedication of its new religious education center; the old one was destroyed in the 2020 earthquake.

Maria Cruz Gray, director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry, retired Oct. 31 after 30 years of service to the faithful in Utah.

Two priests who have been serving for many years in the diocese were incardinated effective Nov. 1: Father Rafael Murillo-Ventura, administrator of St. Marguerite Parish in Tooele, who is originally from El Salvador; and Father Sébastien Sasa Nganomo Babisayone, administrator of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A monstrance designated by Pope Benedict XVI to inspire the faithful to pray for vocations visited Utah; on Nov. 21 it was used during a Holy Hour at Blessed Sacrament Parish that focused on that intention. It also was on display at the Cathedral of the Madeleine the next day. 

Seminarian Kenneth Parsad was ordained a deacon by Bishop Oscar A. Solis on Nov. 22 in the Cathedral of the Madeleine. His priestly ordination is scheduled for June. 

Immaculate Conception Parish celebrated the 75th anniversary of its church building on Dec. 8; the parish itself was established in 1890.

As part of the Jubilee Year 2025 events, which begin at dioceses worldwide on Dec. 29, five Utah parishes were designated as pilgrimage sites: the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City; Saint George Catholic Church, 259 West 200 North, St. George; Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 65 East 500 North, Orem; Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 2350 Adams Ave., Ogden; and Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church, 210 N. Carbon Ave., Price. Local Catholics are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to any or all of these churches during the Jubilee Year, which will end Jan. 6, 2026.