Father Donald E. Hope tapped for Benediction for Capitol re-dedication

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Donald E. Hope, pastor of Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish, Price, offers a prayer of Benediction at the close of the formal Capitol re-dedication Jan 4. Fr. Hope prayed for the preservation of the state's unity.IC photo by Barbara S. Lee

SALT LAKE CITY — A formal re-dedication ceremony Jan. 4 kicked off a week-long series of ceremonies marking the re-opening of the Utah State Capitol after more than six years of restoration.

The estimated $61 million project includes 285 base isolators on which the Capitol now safely sits, and hundreds of miles of wire making this Capitol one of the most technologically advanced and seismically secure buildings in the United States, said David A Hart, executive director of the Capitol Preservation Board and architect of the Utah State Capitol.

The formal re-dedication ceremony began with musical selections by the International Childrens’s Choir. Dick Nourse, retired news anchor for KSL Television served as Master of Ceremonies.

First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman began a massive ringing of bells by members of the Bells on Temple Square and area bell choirs, joined by everyone seated in the rotunda ringing small bells. Patriotic songs followed as the Utah National Guard presented the state and national colors. Pastor Charles Petty of Second Baptist Church, Ogden offered an invocation, followed by "Into Light," an anthem written especially for the occasion by Katherine Coles, Poet Laureate of Utah, and Kurt Bestor.

"My friends and fellow Utahns – today we celebrate Utah’s 112th birthday," said Gov. Jon Huntsman. How appropriate therefore that we have gathered to rededicate this great symbol of statehood – our capitol.

Gov. Huntsman welcomes past governors, legislators, and judges; Haven Barlow, "whose work in the legislature spanned a third of our state’s history and the administration of six governors," and all Utah citizens.

Following remarks by Hart and Gov. Huntsman, other speakers followed, including Senate President John L. Valentine, Speaker of the House Greg J. Curtis, and Utah Supreme Court Justice Christine M. Durham.

Choristers of the Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir School joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Orchestra at Temple Square, and Ralph Matson to sing, "Utah We Love Thee," followed by remarks by President Gordon B. Hinckly of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The combined choirs, orchestra and bell choirs then sang and played "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

"Almighty and eternal God, you have revealed your glory to all nations," Father Donald E. Hope, pastor of Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish, Price, said in his prayer of Benediction. "God of power and might, wisdom and justice, through you authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed."

Fr. Hope asked for blessings on the human hearts present and those who worked on the project. He asked for God’s help in achieving peace, justice, freedom, and equality for all the citizens of Utah.