Thanksgiving Message from Bishop Solis

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Thanksgiving Day is a great occasion to remind ourselves of God’s love, fidelity and gracious generosity to our life, ministry and to the Church. It is a special moment to recognize with gratitude His countless blessings we have constantly received. Our Lord has tremendously blessed our diocese in many little but very significant ways. Last February, we honored some of our priests who celebrated the anniversaries of their priestly ordination, a testimony of their faithfulness to their vocation and dedication to the service of the Church and God’s people in Utah. The attendance and participation of almost all of our priests during the annual clergy retreat last June and at the fall convocation in October were outstanding. Both were grace-filled events and great occasions that helped strengthen the bonds of our unity, solidarity and fraternity.

This year’s annual Bishop’s Dinner for the benefit of the Cathedral of the Madeleine was a big success, highlighting the 25th anniversary of its last renovation. The financial donation of so many generous friends and benefactors in support of the maintenance of the cathedral and the special ministry of the Good Samaritan charitable outreach was a wonderful favor from God.

Our Good Lord continues to bless us as we welcomed four new priests these past months: Fr. Augustine Hilander, OP, Fr. Anil Kakumanu, Fr. Ariel Durian, CS and Fr. Emilio Joshua Santos. One of our seminarians, Dominic Sternhagen, was admitted to the Candidacy in preparation for his ordination to the Order of Deacon this coming June; five new candidates to the permanent diaconate were instituted to the Order of Lector; and we welcomed Karin Hurley, the new director of the Office of Stewardship and Development. Karin provides us information and clearer awareness of stewardship engagement through the Diocesan Development Drive in order to provide the critical assistance to the different pastoral ministries, especially of poor parishes and missions.   

Quinto Encuentro (Fifth Encounter) brought to our diocese the blessings of faith renewal, renewed enthusiasm and excitement in living and sharing the faith that are essential in building our Church communities. We are grateful to the parishes and missions who carried out the pastoral outreach to the Hispanic communities intended to help our Latino brothers and sisters become an integral part of our parish communities and form them as new leaders as Christ’s disciples and partners in our mission of evangelization.

The Lay Ecclesial Ministry Formation Program in English and Spanish under the Congar Institute for Ministry Development is another blessing to us. It celebrated its 12th anniversary during the Diocesan Pastoral Congress last September. The event focused on the gifts of the laity and the formation and development of lay leaders in our diocese who serve parishes and mission in various capacities as directors of different pastoral and liturgical ministries.

During the Congress, we launched the new Diocesan Pastoral Plan, the result of a laborious and collaborative work between our priests and laity introducing the vision and mission of our local Church in Utah for the coming years. The five defined pastoral priorities of the new plan chart the course of our efforts for a new Springtime of Evangelization through personal encounter with Christ and intentional accompaniment of God’s people in our continued faith journey.

This coming season of Advent presents another challenging but exciting moment in our diocese. We begin a chapter in the mission of evangelization as we officially implement our new Pastoral Plan to pursue in a more intentional way conversion of hearts in order to renew, inspire and enliven our faith life so we become joyful and enthusiastic missionary disciples of Christ in sharing and proclaiming the Gospel.

Finally, I thank all my brother priests, deacons, all parish ministers and leaders and the entire people of God in our diocese for your prayers, support and collaboration in our mission. Many challenges lie ahead of us as we embark on a new chapter in our spiritual journey. We go forward with deep gratitude and hope in God’s abiding presence reliant always on His divine providence. Let us join our hearts and hands together as we work as one faith family in pursuit of the one mission of Christ. United in faith, hope and love, and through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, may our endeavor merit God’s unending blessings.

Thank you and have a grace-filled Thanksgiving Day!      

The Most Rev. Oscar A. Solis

Bishop of Salt Lake City