MIDWAY — Five priests who minister in the Diocese of Salt Lake City recently were honored by their confreres for significant anniversaries of their ordination.
At this year’s fall clergy convocation, Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, Father Sebastian Chacko, Father Hernando Diaz, Father Donald Hope and Father Richard Sherman were honored. Typically the priests are honored on their 25th and 50th anniversaries, but because two of them were not recognized last year, they were celebrated this year. 
At the Oct. 7 diocesan priest convocation, five priests were recognized for their special jubilees.  They are shown with Bishop Oscar A. Solis. From left are Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, Father Donald Hope, Bishop Oscar A. Solis, Father Sebastian Chacko, Father Roberto Montoro and Father Richard Sherman. IC photo/Marie MischelMsgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw is celebrating his 51st anniversary as a priest. He was ordained May 30, 1975, in the Cathedral of the Madeleine by the Most Rev. Joseph L. Federal, sixth Bishop of Salt Lake City. He served many positions in the diocese, including as pastor of various parishes, moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, two terms as Promotor of Justice on the diocesan tribunal, diocesan vocations director, dean of the Salt Lake Deanery, and a member of the priests’ personnel board, the diocesan finance council and the liturgical commission. In addition to his diocesan appointments he was vice-rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio from 1983 to 1986. He was named a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness with the title of monsignor in 2008. In 2011 he was appointed the diocesan vicar general, moderator of the curia and vicar for clergy. When Bishop John C. Wester was named Archbishop of Santa Fe in 2015, Msgr. Bircumshaw served as the diocesan administrator until Bishop Oscar A. Solis was appointed in 2017. He retired Aug. 1, 2024, but as vicar general emeritus he continues to serve as a member of the bishop’s senior staff. Father Sebastian Chacko is celebrating 50 years of priesthood. He was ordained a priest on Dec. 19, 1976 by the Most Rev. Cornelius Elanjickal for the Salesians of Don Bosco in the Diocese of Pago Pago in American Samoa. He was subsequently incardinated in the Diocese of Honolulu and came to the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 2022, where he is in residence at St. Francis Xavier Parish and serves as chaplain to the Samoan community. Throughout his many years of ministry he has served as a vice principal in New Delhi, India, as a teacher in Western Samoa, as a missionary in East Africa, as pastor of various parishes in Pago Pago and Hawaii, and in Samoan ministry in New Zealand, Australia, Pago Pago and Utah. At the convocation, Fr. Chacko said he plans to retire next year and return to Pago Pago.
Father Donald Hope also is celebrating his 50th year as a priest. He was ordained April 24, 1976, in Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio by Bishop Federal for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. He served many positions in Utah, including as pastor of various parishes, as chaplain at the Newman Center and as the diocesan vocations director, a member of the Judge Memorial Catholic High School financial board and several terms as dean of the Eastern Deanery. Since retiring in 2015, he has continued to minister in East Carbon County.
Father Roberto Montoro was ordained a priest on June 15, 2001 in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe by Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera for the Archdiocese of Mexico City. He served various assignments there, including as vocations director, parochial vicar, rector and spiritual director at a seminary. He came to the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 2007 and served as parochial vicar and administrator at several parishes and missions throughout Utah. He currently is assigned to St. Henry Parish in Brigham City and its associated mission, Santa Ana in Tremonton.
Father Richard Sherman was ordained a priest 26 years ago, on May 19, 2000, in the Cathedral of the Madeleine by the Most Rev. George H. Niederauer, eighth Bishop of Salt Lake City. He served as parochial vicar and pastor of several parishes and missions in the diocese. In addition, he was a member of the diocesan Peace and Justice Commission, moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s Southwestern Deanery and a presbyteral council representative. He retired in 2019 but has residence and sacramental ministry at St. Christopher Parish in Kanab.