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Living as a Catholic in Utah

Living as a Catholic in Utah

Living as a Catholic in Utah

The Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, Utah. Shutterstock

The state of Utah is broadly and justifiably linked to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Almost all aspects of the state’s colonization by Westerners, its admission as a state, and a significant portion of its history are closely connected to the Mormon Church.

Nonetheless, the Catholic Church has existed from the outset and still flourishes in the Beehive State. In a state where the population predominantly identifies as Mormon, it might appear that residing there as a Catholic would be extremely challenging. However, for numerous Catholics in Utah, this merely creates additional chances for evangelization.

Mark Longe is embarking on his fourth year as the superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Salt Lake City and his 26th year within Catholic education in Utah, where he has previously served at elementary and middle schools. Before this role, he was employed in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Orange in Southern California.

The majority of Catholic schools in Utah are situated close to Salt Lake City. Most are just 15 to 20 minutes apart, and among the 16 schools in the diocese, only three are approximately an hour away from the city center. This proximity enables Longe to interact frequently with principals and to organize professional development events that all teachers can participate in. These 16 institutions cater to around 5,500 students, which is almost twice the figure from roughly 20 years ago.

“When I used to guide parents on a tour of my school, I would often remark that ‘Our school resembles a small town within a large city,’” Longe explained. “Schools and parishes transform into small ‘communities’ for the Catholic congregation. Parents and students develop and forge lasting friendships as they engage with our schools.”

Catholic education

The population of Utah is approximately 3 million individuals, with the largest portion being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There are about 300,000 Catholics residing in the state, making them the second-largest religious group.

“Due to our status as a minority, locating qualified teachers and administrators who are Catholic is quite difficult,” Longe remarked. “This presents a challenge for us, since principals must be Catholic, and any educator instructing religion also needs to be Catholic.” This has become especially problematic lately, as Utah is experiencing a shortage of teachers. Additionally, securing funding and scholarships in Utah is challenging, as a smaller Catholic community means there are fewer individuals available to offer financial backing.

“Similar to educational institutions nationwide, our Catholic schools are responsible for supporting parents in their position as the main educators of their kids, particularly regarding their faith,” he stated.

For Longe, managing Catholic schools in such a predominantly non-Catholic area presents a chance for evangelization. Citing the USCCB’s 2005 statement “Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium,” Longe notes that, “Catholic schools provide the most comprehensive and effective means to fulfill the fourfold mission of Christian education: to create an environment where the Gospel message is shared, community in Christ is felt, service to our neighbors becomes the standard, and gratitude and worship of God are nurtured. When schools excel in these areas, they also serve as strong agents of evangelization for our non-Catholic friends.”

Opportunities for interfaith engagement

Magdalene Religious Goods stands out as the sole religious goods retailer in the Salt Lake City region. Since its launch in November 2013, the shop has quickly established itself as a prominent part of life in the capital, earning accolades such as Salt Lake Magazine’s Best of Salt Lake Award and City Weekly’s Best of Utah Award. For Jacque Smithe, the proprietor, embracing a Catholic lifestyle while managing a Catholic store in Utah offers more advantages and possibilities than difficulties.

“I don’t struggle to practice my faith even though Utah is mainly Mormon,” Smithe remarked. “In fact, I believe that Catholics in Utah may be more resilient due to our non-dominant position.”

“We have a resilient community here in Utah,” she remarked. Nonetheless, being raised as a Catholic brought several obstacles. “We hardly knew any of our neighbors since they were members of the Mormon ward — and, naturally, our family was not. Some parents even advised their kids against associating with non-Mormons.” Smithe had the advantage of going to a parochial school, so she did not directly face this issue, but noted that a number of Catholic kids — like her niece and nephew — who are enrolled in public school often experience a sense of isolation.

Magdalene Religious Goods caters to a diverse customer base, being the sole religious merchandise store in the vicinity. “A lot of individuals find us unique and intriguing, resulting in visits from not only Catholics but also various other faiths,” stated Smithe. “We occasionally have some Mormons who come by as well.”

Smithe aims to cultivate an inviting environment at Magdalene, featuring sofas and complimentary coffee and tea, along with a prayer room where they encourage guests to submit prayer requests and obituaries, providing yet another chance to evangelize.

The ambiance in many parts of Utah contrasts significantly with that of much of the remainder of the nation. While a considerable portion of the country is becoming more secularized, leading devout Catholics to feel marginalized and like outsiders, the situation in Utah diverges: it is highly spiritual, yet not in a conventional Christian manner.

‘Ecumenical draw’

Luke Stager transitioned from Portland, Oregon — a stronghold of secular beliefs and unaffiliated individuals — to Utah while pursuing his master’s degree in education. Initially tasked with teaching math and theology to juniors at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden, Utah, for a period of two years, he subsequently sought a position at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City. There, he taught mathematics and freshman theology and ultimately took on the role of campus minister. In this capacity, he coordinated school liturgies and retreats, among various other duties. He has since moved back to Oregon and is currently a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Portland.

During his time in Utah, Stager encountered numerous chances for evangelism, too. He performed with the choir at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City.

“The Cathedral of the Madeleine served as a stronghold for the arts and quality liturgy,” he remarked, “which attracted a wide ecumenical audience and played a crucial role in fostering connections with the LDS Church through a shared passion for the arts.”

Throughout the years, interactions between Catholics and Mormons have occasionally been tense; nevertheless, significant progress has been achieved thanks to the relentless dedication of the leaders from both faiths. This has largely stemmed from a revived shared dedication to promoting the arts, particularly music. This serves as a recurring theme when examining the connection between Catholics and Mormons: Where can they find shared interests? Conversely, what distinctive contributions can each group offer?

Resistance to piety

Despite the significant distinctions between Catholics and Mormons, as well as the insular aspects of numerous Mormon communities, Stager didn’t perceive himself as an “other” while in Utah — “at least,” he remarked, “not any more than I feel like an ‘other’ in pagan and unchurched Portland.” In Portland, he noted, practicing any form of religion can appear quite alien, whereas in Utah it does not seem out of place.

The composition of the Church in Utah is influenced by the state’s culture, which includes the insularity of numerous Mormon communities. “From a broader viewpoint, being a Catholic in Utah appeared to me not significantly distinct from being a Catholic in Portland,” Stager stated. The most significant difference he observed is that there are noticeably fewer young Catholics — specifically, those of college age and young adults — in Utah. He noted that the majority of local residents leave Utah for their college education, and not many Catholics relocate to the state for their studies.

“One observation I made as a Catholic high school educator was that the students tended to be more resistant to what they viewed as excessively religious,” Stager remarked. “I believe the students link piety and intense levels of devotion with Mormons, and they typically aimed to separate themselves from that.”

Although the patterns seen and felt by these people may not be applicable to everyone, they reflect the broader culture within the state of Utah.

Paul Senz writes from Oregon.

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