Priests, deacon recognized for outstanding leadership, service to the Diocese of Salt Lake City

Intermountain Catholic

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Rev. Msgr. Colin E. Bircumshaw

SALT LAKE CITY — Four priests have been named Monsignors and one deacon has been recognized by the Vatican for his service to the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Rev. Msgrs. Colin E. Bircumshaw, pastor of Saint Ann Parish, Salt Lake City; Joseph M. Mayo, pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City; Terence M. Moore, pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish, Draper; and Matthew O. Wixted, retired, will be invested March 18, 2009, and Deacon Silvio Mayo, diocesan chancellor, will be given the cross and ribbon of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, "For Church and Pope."

Technically, these men have held the honors since November 5, when word came from the Pope Benedict XVI that the requests for the honors had been accepted. The announcement of the honors was made Jan. 13, at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. Their responses ranged from the quiet acceptance of Rev. Msgr. Mayo to the almost breathless surprise of Rev. Msgr. Wixted. Deacon Mayo was surprised by the honor and even to this day, hesitates to talk of it.

Rev. Msgr. Colin E. Bircumshaw said he did not expect to be made a monsignor at all.

"I didn’t have a hint," he said. "I think it was significant that we were given the news on Bishop Federal’s birthday. The late Bishop Federal was the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, serving first as auxiliary bishop in 1951, then as co-adjuter in 1958. He succeeded to the See of Salt Lake City in 1960, and served as bishop for 20 years before retiring.

"This papal honor is related to the papal household," said Msgr. Bircumshaw. It’s an honorary title, but a papal honor nonetheless."

Msgr. Bircumshaw has a great love for everything Italian, especially for the great city of Rome.

He said the priests he has most admired have been monsignors, including Msgr. Patrick A Maguire (d. 1966). "Msgr. Patrick Maguire from Our Lady of Lourdes buried my grandmother, married my parents, and baptized me the day I was born. I visited him when I expressed my desire to go to the seminary when I was 14 years old.

Msgr. Mark O. Benvengu (d. 1995)was my first pastor growing up in Kearns until the day I left for the seminary in 1963, when he opened St. Vincent’s Parish.

Msgr. Bircumshaw attended the Pontifical College Josephinum in Ohio, and "practically all the professors there were monsignors, of the various 14 levels of "importance." Msgr. Bircumshaw would return to the Josephinum as vice rector.

Msgr. William H. McDougall (d. 1988) was my first pastor as a newly ordained priest, and a true mentor in priestly service. Msgrs. Jerome Stoffel (d. 2001) and John J. Sullivan (d. 2005) both of whom were long time family friends and pastors I followed respectively at Saint Thomas Aquinas in Logan and Saint Ann in Salt Lake City. And of course Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar general of the diocese now, I admire above all the priests I have known."

Msgr. Bircumshaw said this honor has a double meaning, coming as it does in the year in which the centennial of the Cathedral of the Madeleine is being celebrated.

Rev. Msgr. Joseph M. Mayo is pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine Parish. He, too, said the day of the announcement caught him by surprise. None of these men knew they had been nominated for the honor, and even though many cathedral pastors or rectors are monsignors, Msgr. Mayo said he was "dumbfounded."

"I love what I am doing so much," he said. "This honor is truly appreciated. It’s by way of congratulations by the bishop for the work we’ve done.

"Over the years we have all had some enormous tasks to accomplish, and we’ve all had some challenging years."

Msgr. Mayo has a long history with the diocese and the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

"I started school in Cathedral Grade School in what is now the Diocesan Pastoral Center. I remember Bishop Hunt and was one of the few page boys selected to carry the bishop’s train as he entered and left the cathedral."

Msgr. Mayo was ordained in 1973, having attended St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, then studying theology at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. He earned his Master of Religious Studies at the University of San Francisco in 1983.

In addition to the special papal honor that comes with being named a monsignor, Msgr. Mayo said this year is specifically important because it is the centennial year of the dedication of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, which is being noted throughout the diocese.

"Each of the parishes in which I have served has had its own uniqueness. I got to know the people of Ogden when I served at Saint Joseph Parish and Saint James Parish. Then, I spent years at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Kearns getting the school going. It’s comforting to know that Saint Francis Xavier School in Kearns is still flourishing."

He said at the time St. Francis Xavier School opened, there was a great need for a school on the west side of the valley.

"Of course, I had a lot more energy than I do now," he said. But that doesn’t keep him from being fully involved with the Madeleine Choir School.

After leaving Kearns, Msgr. Mayo was named pastor of Saint Thomas More Parish in Sandy. When Msgr. M. Francis Mannion, then pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, left for a three-year assignment in Chicago, Msgr. Mayo was asked by Bishop George Niederauer, the diocese’s eighth bishop, to become pastor, or rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in 2000.

Msgr. Mayo said he never expected to be made pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

"It’s a pinnacle to be in such a beautiful church, one that hosts events of the arts and humanities, and social programs like the Good Samaritan Program"

One of the first main events Msgr. Mayo coped with at the Cathedral of the Madeleine was the death of Bishop Federal, he said.

The Madeleine Choir School was begun in the basement of the cathedral, "and it’s been a joy to watch that school grow and watch the choir and choristers accomplish so much."

Together with Gregory Glenn, founder of the school, Msgr. Mayo has watched the school expand in size and stature.

"Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to buy the Rowland Hall-Saint Mark’s property. We were able to move the students out of the basement and into a much larger setting that has a playground, computer labs, and so much more."

Msgr. Mayo keeps a non-stop schedule usually beginning with meetings at 6 a.m., appointments that begin at 7:30 a.m. Mass, and diocesan meetings that run sometimes into the evenings.

"I’ve picked up a habit from my father," he said, "I like to walk around the downtown area and see how the construction is going since they tore down the malls."

These days Msgr. Mayo is involved in every aspect of the celebration of the centennial of the dedication of the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

"We will have our regular celebration of the arts and humanities, kicking it off with performances by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir April 18-19. On Aug. 9 we will have a civic ceremony in the Cathedral, and we have different events planned throughout the year, including evening prayer and a vigil for the Feast of the Assumption. We have planned special prayer services and a concert by our Spanish Choir.

"On the day of the centennial celebration, Aug. 15, we have planned a Mass at 2 p.m., with 6 p.m. events at the Grand America Hotel. On Sunday we will celebrate Mass at 3 p.m., with dignitaries like Archbishop William Levada, Bishop Weigand, and Archbishop Niederauer," Msgr. Mayo said. "In all, we expect some 36 bishops.

"At the end of the year, we will resettle the cornerstone, its capsule filled with memorabilia of the times to be opened and seen 100 years from now."

Msgr. Mayo said when the Cathedral of the Madeleine was built, its address on South Temple was considered "out of town." Now it’s downtown. Our history has been affected by the miners, the railroad, and the immigrants who came to help build them. The 100 years of the cathedral have seen a lot of change."

For Rev. Msgr. Terence M. Moore, being named a monsignor was "totally unexpected. I thought I’d been called to a meeting of the diocesan consultors." Ordained in 1967 in Saint Patrick Church in Thurles, Ireland, two weeks later, he landed in New York on his way to Utah.

"I stayed in Brooklyn for a time with my Irish relatives. I remember arriving in Salt Lake City at night."

Msgr. Moore’s first assignment was the Cathedral of the Madeleine, his first pastor Msgr. William H. McDougall.

Nearing his 42nd year as a priest, Msgr. Moore has overseen three major building projects: Saint Thomas More Church and rectory and Saint James Church, Ogden.

With a long history in social services, Msgr. Moore served as director of Catholic Community Services from 1986-1993. From 1982-1985, he was granted permission to serve Utah as coordinator of refugee resettlement.

"I had received my Doctorate in Social Work a the U. of U., and the late Bishop Federal and Bishop Weigand let me keep it up," he said. "At that time we were seeing a lot of Indo-Chinese refugees, and my work with them has always been a great source of pride for me."

In 1985, he was named pastor of Saint Thomas More Parish, for which he built a rectory in 1987, and a new church in 1993. Since 2003, Msgr. Moore has been pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish on the site of the Skaggs Catholic Center in Draper.

"My ministry and my life go on," he said, reflecting on his recent diagnosis of chronic meyloid leukemia. "It seems I’ve had it all my life, but have just been diagnosed now."

Msgr. Moore said he feels very honored to be named a monsignor. "It’s a nice recognition for me and a significant honor for the parish," he said. "We often participate in the major events at the Skaggs Catholic Center and I serve as chaplain of the schools where there are nearly 2,000 students."

He is also involved in the new initiative, working with former Salt Lake City Mayor Palmer de Paulis, head of the Community and Culture. He finds himself involved again in refugee resettlement. "Being an immigrant myself, I am sensitive to their needs."

Msgr. Moore said he is particularly proud of the work the Most Reverend John C. Wester has been doing on the national level on immigration.

"Hopefully we’ll get the reforms so the 12 million undocumented workers we have in the country will be provided with a path to citizenship. It would not only be good for them, but also for the economy. They have a lot to offer. We should remember that our Pilgrim mothers and fathers were undocumented, and the history of the Catholic Church is one of an immigrant church."

Msgr. Moore said he is grateful for the gift of the Skaggs Catholic Center from the ALSAM Foundation.

"The diocese really needed a high school in the southern part of the valley and elementary schools to feed it. We have that now with Saint John the Baptist School and Saint Andrew School.

Of all of the new monsignors perhaps the one who was most surprised was Msgr. Matthew O. Wixted.

"It’s the last thing I expected," he said. "I found myself in a room full of consultors and other significant people. A native of County Cork in Thurles, Ireland, he said his first memory is of the bombing of Belfast.

It was an old priest, a friend of the family, who encouraged Msgr. Wixted to become a priest. He and his sister, a member of the Sisters of the Presentation, are the only survivors of a family of three boys and one girl.

Their parents were teachers in a one-room school house, "so we had no one to complain to," he said.

While attending Saint Patrick College in Thurles, Msgr. Martin Burke invited Msgr. Wixted and other seminarians to come to the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Msgr. Wixted was ordained in 1962. His first assignment was at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, Holladay.

He said he took his cue to retire from Bishop William K. Weigand, the diocese’s seventh bishop, who when he retired from the Diocese of Sacramento, Calif., said, "It’s time for me to step aside and let someone else take over."

Msgr. Wixted said Our Lady must have sent Msgr. Burke to talk to him, "because I’ve been joyously happy here."

From his arrival in Salt Lake City, where he was picked up by Father Gerald Trageser, he’s been known as "the man with the suitcase," because his assignments have taken him all over the diocese. His last assignment was as pastor of Saint Marguerite Parish in Tooele.

"I’ve served in Ogden, the missions of Southern Utah, in Salt Lake City, in Midvale, and I helped out at the Cathedral of the Madeleine from 1966-1969. I’ve been all over."

He said he learned a lot from the late Msgr. William H. McDougall, "who was so pastoral and kind. He taught me to have a special concern for the vulnerable, and he was sensitive to shut-ins.

One of his favorite weekend assignments was to serve the people of Fish Lake. "I would celebrate Mass at 5:30, and then we’d go fishing at 7:30."

Msgr. Wixted was chaplain at Holy Cross Hospital for almost 18 years, an assignment he loved. He also served as chaplain at the Veteran’s Hospital.

His experience of a lifetime, he said, was taking a sabbatical in Rome where he studied. "We spent Holy Week with Pope John Paul II, and we concelebrated Mass in his private chapel.

Coming from an agricultural family, Msgr. Wixted said he was drawn to the Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity in Huntsville.

"It was when they had all those cows. I went into the milking parlor, where they had to make sure all the cows and the milking equipment was perfectly clean. Well, I leaned on the mechanical bar and suddenly there was water all over the place. I think I upset the solemnity of the abbey."

One of the best parts of being made a monsignor is sharing the honor with Msgr. Colin E. Bircumshaw. "He has always been a true friend to me."

Today Msgr. Wixted is wading through boxes of papers, remnants of his life as a priest who always said "yes" when he was asked to do something or go somewhere.

"I am so grateful for this honor, and grateful to whoever gave the inspiration for it," he said.

"Even in retirement," he said, "I hope to continue to be of some service to the diocese and to my fellow priests."

Msgr. Wixted has been a priest of the Diocese of Salt Lake City for 47 years. Of those years he served two six-year terms as pastor at Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Midvale, and spent almost 12 at Saint Marguerite Parish.

"I love the people of Midvale and Tooele. They have been like an extended family for me. I have very fond memories of all the places I’ve been.

In his typically modest way, Msgr. Wixted said, "I hope they keep the celebration low-keyed. I’m not great for big deals, especially in light of the current economy."

He said he hoped some of his retirement can be spent among people with special needs, "to walk with them on the journey."

Like all of the new monsignors, Msgr. Wixted said he can think of a lot of people who deserve the honor more than he does.

"I’m a people person, not and institutional person.

Each of the four new monsignors go forth with the title: "Prelate of Honor to His Holiness." It reminds Msgr. Wixted of the wonderful time he had in Rome studying at the Institute for Continuing Theological Education.

The man with the suitcase can now be called Msgr. Wixted. "I don’t know," he said. "I think they’ll still call me Mattie."

Diocesan Chancellor Deacon Silvio Mayo has been a man of few words about being given the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award. He will receive the papal honor the same night the new monsignors will be invested.

"Bishop Wester and Msgr. Fitzgerald came into my office and shut the door," Deacon Mayo said. "I thought I was in trouble."

The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award is the highest papal award to be given to someone who is not a priest. It is given to men and women the Church feels have done outstanding work.

A deacon for 32 years, Deacon Mayo was in the first class of men to become deacons in the Diocese of Salt Lake City. He has been chancellor of the diocese for 24 years and was the first non-priest to be named a chancellor in the country.

The father of Msgr. Joseph M. Mayo, Deacon Mayo said his wife, Mary, is happy for both of them, "but a little happier for Joe, I think."

The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is a cross and ribbon. Translated, the title means "For Church and Pope," and is also known as the "Cross of Honor."

"Since I retired I wanted to perform some service to the church in any way I could. But still, this is unexpected."