Our future is rooted in the seeds of the past.
An endowment was created for each of four pillars by the Board of the Catholic Foundation under former Bishop John C. Wester. They are the means by which our Church— parishes, Catholic schools, social service agencies, and all of the ministries, programs, and services of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City—can experience partial respite from making multiple requests for support. Building successful endowments now will ease financial burdens later.
The Catholic Church in Utah has enjoyed dramatic growth since the year 2000. Several urban and rural areas have completed new facilities and substantial upgrades. However, escalating real estate values underscore the need to plan for future expansion now. The Church needs properties for new churches and schools in areas where significant population growth is projected. Prudent land purchases now represent an investment in saving later. Communities along the Wasatch Front—from Ogden to Provo, and Utah's rural areas, are all areas targeted for continued growth.
The Bishop's Future Fund supports:
† Purchasing land for future parish and mission communities
† Building new churches, schools, and facilities
† Expanding and renovating existing physical structures
When we support this endowed fund, we proclaim our faith conviction with great joy while unselfishly laying the groundwork for generations to come.
Help support structural expansion and renovation with a gift to this Endowment.
Youth Ministry:
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops calls for a focused concern on the needs of our young people. The Diocese of Salt Lake City has been dedicated to the care and cultivation of Catholic youth leaders since its inception. This is especially true for minority youth.
The Diocese provides direct services promoting a holistic pastoral response to the needs of youth through its Office of Youth Ministry. The Diocese also works cooperatively with other groups in the community to sponsor retreats, camp experiences, and the development of at-risk programs for young people.
Catholic Schools:
Catholic education has been a central focus of the Diocese of Salt Lake City since its earliest days. Catholic schools offer the best opportunity for educating young people in the traditions, values, and teachings of the Catholic faith. The challenge is keeping tuition affordable while providing educators with competitive salaries.
The Youth Ministry and Education Endowment supports programs that protect and nurture our children. It provides monies for catechetical materials and religious education. Finally, by providing an additional subsidy, it strives to close the gap between the rising costs of education and retaining great teachers through a fair and just salary.
Help support Catholic schools and Youth Ministry with a gift to this Endowment
Forecasts indicate that the number of Utah Catholics will continue to rise in the years to come. Continued growth underscores the need for more well-trained priests and pastors.
Preparation for the priesthood does not come easily or inexpensively. It involves years of academic study, spiritual formation, and pastoral skills training. Annual costs exceed $40,000 per year for each seminarian.
The Seminarian and Priestly Formation Endowment will make it possible for the Diocesan Vocations Office to execute aggressive recruitment efforts to encourage priesthood candidates. Further, it will ensure that those who answer the call will be educated and well-trained throughout their service to the Church.
The diocese is currently blessed with ten seminarians. This is wonderful news for the future needs of our Utah Catholic Church. However, the diocese must budget $400,000 annually to educate these seminarians. This is the largest single item in the current Diocesan budget.
Help support seminarian and priestly formation with a gift to this Endowment. (link)
Utah is a land of sharp contrasts. From its harsh deserts to rugged mountains, it’s a land where all is precious, and nothing is taken for granted. Utah Catholics mirror the land in which they live. Though numbering a mere ten percent of the population, they have carved out their identity as surely as the pinnacles and peaks that surround them. But it can be a struggle for Catholics residing in more remote areas to witness their faith and live out their values.
In isolated regions, the challenge for the Church has been to support and maintain the faith of Catholics, especially youth and migrant Hispanics. Living and working conditions for priests, sisters, and lay evangelizers are daunting. They travel thousands of miles monthly to provide Mass, sacraments, and religious instruction. Vehicles wear out. Gas and maintenance costs are significant. The resources of the local people are slim.
Maintaining an evangelizing presence in the missions guarantees cultural support for future generations of Catholics. Gifts to The Rural Church Development and Missionary Outreach Endowment help fund:
Help support Missions and your fellow Catholics with a gift to this Endowment. (link)
