Bishop William K. Weigand, pastoral leader of some 75,000 Utahns for the past 13 years who will be installed formally next Thursday as bishop of Sacramento, Calif., leaves Utah today.
The Catholic leader, who was ordained bishop of the Salt Lake Catholic Diocese in November 1980, conducted his last Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine last Sunday.Thursday night he was honored at a dinner attended by close advisers. Friday morning Bishop Weigand offered the opening prayer in the Utah State Senate, and during the afternoon he said farewell to some 55 members of the diocesan staff at a Mass and luncheon at the Pastoral Center.
And today the 56-year-old Catholic leader, who has endeared himself to thousands of Utahns, will leave for Sacramento. There he will be met by a delegation from that diocese, which has a membership of more than 337,000 Catholics among a population of 2.6 million.
Next Wednesday, Bishop Weigand will receive a letter from Pope John Paul II, entitling him to take "canonical possession of the diocese." Thursday he will be installed as the new bishop of Sacramento during a formal ceremony with a Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown Sacramento.
Archbishop Agostino Cac-ciavil-lan, the pope's delegate to the United States, will conduct the installation ceremony.
The departure of Bishop Weigand, who came to Utah after serving as pastor of a parish in the small town of Homedale, Idaho, follows a number of gatherings, including a Jan. 10 dinner attended by some 800 religious and civic leaders at the Salt Lake Marriott Hotel and a farewell luncheon Wednesday at the Cathedral of the Madeleine social hall.
President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called Bishop Weigand a "giant among men."
"He came as one unknown, then captured our hearts, kindled our faith and prompted our action. The spirit of cooperation among those of various faiths in the Salt Lake Valley has never been better."
A number of other church, civic and political leaders, including Gov. Mike Leavitt, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch and Salt Lake Mayor Deedee Corradini, also spoke at the gathering. And tributes were read on behalf of still others.
Several speakers and some of their comments:
- Palmer DePaulis, former Salt Lake mayor:
"Bishop Weigand has made many contributions to not only the Catholic community but also the citizens of the State of Utah . . . He is a man with a keen intellect, a strong spirit and a warm heart. We wish him well." DePaulis mentioned Bishop Weigand's efforts for Catholic Community Services, Judge Memorial High School, for minority and ethnic groups, to Native Americans and other programs.
- Dee Rowland, government liaison and director of the Peace and Justice Commission for the Salt Lake Diocese:
"It has been very clear to me that Bishop Weigand follows the principles espoused in Catholic social justice teachings, and he sees them as an agenda for action - not just noble words."
- Jon Huntsman, chairman of Huntsman Chemical Corp. and LDS Church and civic leader:
"Bishop Weigand will be greatly missed in Salt Lake City. His warm friendship and close association have meant very much to our family. We have particularly been respectful of the way Bishop Weigand has reached out to people of all faiths. Sacramento, indeed, is the winner."
- Shirley Mares, the bishop's secretary for the past 11/2 years:
"He has been a wonderful person to work for. I will miss him very much, but it (his calling) is something the church in Sacramento needs. Our loss is their gain."
- Ruth Allen, 82, a receptionist who retired in November after 18 years at the diocese:
"I will remember Bishop Weigand for the way he works so hard and for his nice sense of humor. He was consumed with his work but never ever have I seen him be unkind to anybody."
- Agnes Johnson, 92, a long-time parishioner of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and now a resident of St. Joseph Villa nursing home:
Remembered the clergyman as a "hard worker and a dedicated bishop . . . he always remembered my name when I came to Mass" at the cathedral.
- Sister Mary Ambrose Naughton, executive director of the nursing home:
Said Bishop Weigand has a "sense of great hope for the ministry of the sick and feels a great need to integrate Christian values into the care of the elderly. He has great reverence for people, regardless of their religious affiliation. I think that is one of his special gifts."