Thomas and Jennie Kearns are honored at Mass

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester asks the students what gift someone gave them.

SALT LAKE CITY — "On Founder’s Day we remember Senator Thomas and Jennie Kearns, who donated the land and built an orphanage in 1899," said Dexter Holmquist, Kearns-Saint Ann student body president. "In 1955, the doors to Kearns-Saint Ann School opened."

A Founder’s Day Mass was concelebrated by the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, and Father Colin Bircumshaw, pastor of Saint Ann Parish, to honor Senator Thomas Kearns on the 90th anniversary of his death. Senator Kearns died Oct. 18, 1918, and this being the first Founder’s Day Mass will set precedence for the Mass to be held on the Friday closest to his anniversary date.

"On behalf of all the students, I would like to thank the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, for coming to celebrate Founder’s Day with us," said Holmquist. "We would like to welcome him to our school.

"Through the generosity of Thomas and Jennie Kearns, we have been able to provide a quality Catholic education to thousands of students at Kearns-Saint Ann School," said Holmquist.

Holmquist, along with Carter Hendrickson and Parisa Nkoy presented Bishop Wester with a photograph of Kearns-Saint Ann School that was signed by all the students. The photograph was taken by Saint Ann parishioner Tom McMahon.

Bishop Wester was grateful for his gift, and said someday maybe he would see some of their signatures in very important places.

"I can say I knew that person when he or she was in elementary or middle school and now he or she is the president of the United States, or the surgeon general," said Bishop Wester. "There are great things in store for all of you."

In his homily Bishop Wester said one of the themes of our Mass is the generosity of Senator Thomas and Jennie Kearns and gift giving. The Kearns gave you this parish and this school.

Bishop Wester said gift giving is receiving something for which we did not work.

Bishop Wester referred to the reading and Saint Paul talking about the gift of God, which is so incredible. God gave us the gift of his son. Because of the gift of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus Christ sent us, we are one with God, and we can be one with God through the Holy Eucharist.