Farewell

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In 2011, I was offered the chance to build a more just and peaceful world as the government liaison for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.  The years since have been an amazing journey, working with some of the best people I have ever had the pleasure to know. It is thus a bittersweet moment to leave the diocese to join Salt Lake County in its efforts to build a more just and peaceful county.

Thanks to the opportunities I have had at the diocese to advocate for the dignity and sanctity of every life, but especially our brothers and sisters living in poverty, I will now be in a position to help the county develop policy that has a direct impact on the lives of some of the most vulnerable individuals in our state. As the director of the Criminal Justice Advisory Council, I will be working with county leaders across multiple agencies on comprehensive approaches to address the problem of people cycling between homelessness and jail, among other issues. Thanks to the trust the diocese has shown in me, I have been able to delve into both of these realms from a perspective that is critical in public policy – seeing the dignity and worth of every life.

Leaving my role at the diocese is not easy. This has been more than a job to me; it is a ministry, and one in which I have experienced many moments of grace. From traveling with villagers in Malawi to working with women at the Utah State Prison, I have learned lifelong lessons about humanity and divinity. Speaking Gospel truths to power, seeing and being part of our Church at work in the world has been unbelievably inspiring, and sometimes incredibly frustrating. I would not leave this ministry for anything less than the opportunity the county has offered me to delve in depth in systemic reform of our criminal justice system, and to help address its disparate impacts on people living in deep poverty.

I am deeply grateful to those who have been such dedicated supporters during my years of ministry. I have relished the opportunity to write and present on the beauty and depth of Catholic social teaching, to bring that teaching to the public square in advocacy against the death penalty; in support of anti-poverty programs locally, nationally and globally; and to represent our Catholic voice. It is our teaching, urging us to build a more peaceful and just world, which leads me to the next stage of my career. Catholic teaching on the preferential option for the poor, the dignity and sanctity of life, rights and responsibilities, and solidarity and subsidiarity, among others, inspired my work at the diocese and will continue to do so as I move to county government.

I will miss the friends I have made during my years at the diocese. From my favorite social justice advocates at St. Joe’s in Ogden, to my fellow social action and Catholic conference directors nationwide, to the amazing teams at Catholic Relief Services working to address worldwide inequity and poverty, I have come to know some remarkable individuals doing incredible good in every corner of the globe. It is in the places where our Church lives and breathes that we witness the beauty of our teaching, and I have been privileged to serve in many of those places where the Church is actively engaged in areas of deep need.

I will continue to pray for the mutual success of all of us as we strive to build a more just and peaceful society along our complementary though divergent paths.

Editor’s note: Jean Hill received numerous awards for this column, which has appeared in these pages for the past 12 years. Her last day with the Diocese of Salt Lake City will be Nov. 3.