Fr. Sam Dinsdale is installed as a first-time Pastor

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester (right), introduces and congratulates Georgia Dinsdale, while Deacon Otto Johansson (left) and Father Samuel Dinsdale welcome her and show their appreciation.IC photos by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — "It is a real joy for me to be here with you as a parish family as we officially install Father Samuel Dinsdale as a new pastor," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City at the Installation Mass.

Fr. Dinsdale was installed for the first time in the office of pastor Nov. 15, at Saint Patrick Parish, Salt Lake City.

"I have installed many pastors, but I would say, Archbishop William Levada is pleased to present a particular pastor," said Bishop Wester. "It is a joy for me, and I am very proud to be able to do it in my own name. I feel so very confident in Fr. Dinsdale and so proud of him, and know that he is already a wonderful pastor."

Throughout his homily, Bishop Wester talked about change. He said change is difficult because often we do not want to let go. The Gospel reading was the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. Bishop Wester said what Jesus was trying to communicate is that Jesus is the change that brings us through life. Jesus is the one who brings us out of our rut or routine, and out of the ordinary. He is the one that gives us new life. Jesus said you have to take the risk of letting go and trust me that I will bring you new life, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Even in the face of death and suffering, we have to have that Christian hope. We have to walk, not by sight, but by faith.

"The new life that Christ is offering to Saint Patrick Parish is the installation of your new pastor," said Bishop Wester. "Christ is working in Fr. Dinsdale, and he is working in you in this new moment. As you embrace your new pastor, and he embraces you, the challenge is to be able to be open to this moment. Take the risk of allowing Christ to work through your new pastor as he ministers to you, and you to minister to him. This is a wonderful time to be in this parish."

"Getting to pastor my own parish is mere intrepidation," said Fr. Dinsdale. "It is something that I am excited about, and also something I understand requires great responsibility, dedication, and skill. It requires, for me, jumping in, but also making sure that I understand what being a pastor means. I am still learning what that means. You have to really learn on the job."

Fr. Dinsdale said as parochial vicar of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Midvale, he learned from the pastoral leadership of Father Francisco Pires, now pastor of Saint Andrew Parish. He learned from Msgr. Robert Bussen, pastor, and retired Father Jim Flynn of Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish, Park City. Fr. Flynn is from the Diocese of Louisville, Ky.

"Saint Patrick is so unique in that it has so many different cultural groups," said Fr. Dinsdale. There is really no church like Saint Patrick in the United States. To be a pastor at Saint Patrick requires me, and this is true of all pastors, to be constantly thinking what is required in situations because it is not obvious. Also the people in this parish have different experiences of church."

"We have the Sudanese, Tongans, Koreans, Latinos, and the Anglos, and when we mention church, we all have a different ideas of what that means. It is a constant challenge. But the people of Saint Patrick make up a great community. They are dedicated, devoted, and really one church rather than separate communities. We need to make sure we are rubbing shoulders with each other and see ourselves as connected with each other."

Fr. Dinsdale grew up in Ogden in Holy Family Parish, and attended Saint Joseph Catholic School from the first grade until he graduated. He graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts and Business, with a minor in philosophy.

"At that time in my life, I needed to seriously discern whether I wanted to be a priest," said Fr. Dinsdale. "The thought first occurred in the third grade, but I kept it in the back of my mind.

"I went to Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, Calif., from 1997 to 2003," said Fr. Dinsdale. I was ordained May 29, 2003, in the Cathedral of the Madeleine."

Fr. Dinsdale was assigned to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, for two years, and then Saint Mary of the Assumption for three years.

"I must say being a priest for five and a half years really causes me to stretch myself and to be a leader of people who are of different cultures and in different times in their lives," said Fr. Dinsdale. "The vocation of a priest is so respected, so important and so great, that it causes me to put myself in situations where I have to have faith and trust in God, with willingness and hope. The job is not defined. I change, the job changes, and the people change, and it is a very dynamic situation. I must be open and develop my own skills, my own spiritual life, and adapt."

Georgia Dinsdale, Fr. Dinsdale’s mother, said everything that has happened today is what Fr. Dinsdale has worked for.

"It seems like it was what Sam was meant to do. It comes naturally to him," said his mother. "He loves it. When he was young, he made sure we stayed for coffee and donuts, and he used to visit with everyone. We lived in Ogden and we were surrounded by LDS neighbors, but Sam felt he was raised in a Catholic bubble.

"He changed his mind several times before he entered the seminary, but once he was there, there was no looking back. He put everything he had into it to be the best priest he could be."