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Dear MCS Community
I am saddened to report the death of Monsignor J. Terrance Fitzgerald, a dedicated priest of the Diocese of Salt Lake City and a long-time and loyal supporter of The Madeleine Choir School, who passed away last night. Msgr. Fitzgerald’s service to the Church in Utah is the stuff of legend: he has pastored multiple parishes throughout the state and served as an advisor to multiple Bishops over the years.
Monsignor was a fixer: he was repeatedly sent to institutions in trouble, charged with rescuing them and setting them on a path to success both financially and ministerially, including Mt. Angel Seminary, Judge Memorial Catholic High School, Catholic Community Services, and many other parishes and schools. Finally, in his role as Vicar General, he was the wise counsel to our Bishops, assisting them in their important work of leadership, and while we were without a Bishop, he served as the very capable administrator of the Diocese, a time I like to refer to as the ‘Pax Fitzgerald.’
Monsignor was largely responsible for securing the Skaggs family’s gift to build the Skaggs Catholic Center, at the time the largest single gift in our nation to a Catholic school. He oversaw the design and construction of this facility, recognizing its crucial role in the Diocese's growth south of Salt Lake City. He was also instrumental in launching the Hispanic Ministry at the Cathedral and in helping me launch the Cathedral's Coro Hispano.
He was a tireless supporter of the Choir School, helping us acquire funds for both the 2017 restoration of Erbin Hall and the 2023 construction of our new Field House and Early Childhood Education Center. Personally, I cannot thank him enough for his constant kindness and patronage of me in the thirty-eight years I have been blessed to serve in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.
In your kindness, remember in your prayers this humble and long-suffering servant whose wisdom and tireless effort has benefitted us all.
Eternal rest grant unto Msgr. Fitgerald, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
Amen.
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