The Catholic community in Utah participated in several events to mark the 250th anniversary of the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition. Among these was a prayer service held at the Cathedral of the Madeleine on Sept. 23, presided over by Bishop Oscar A. Solis.
During the service, Bishop Solis spoke about the courage of those who traveled to unfamiliar lands to seek new paths. He also honored the Native people whose hospitality and wisdom helped shape the history of the mission. The bishop prayed for those seeking reconciliation and understanding among different peoples, as well as those working to preserve cultural heritage.
The service included members of the Cross and Culture Relay, who are currently retracing the route taken by Franciscan friars Atanasio Domínguez and Silvestre Vélez de Escalante. In 1776, the friars sought a route from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to the Catholic mission in Monterey, California. The expedition traveled through modern-day Utah, Colorado, and Arizona before turning back, guided by three members of the Ute tribe. A commemorative cross was placed before the altar and blessed by the bishop at the conclusion of the service.
Bishop Solis described the expedition as a significant part of the history of Utah and the Catholic Church. He noted that the friars carried the cross not just as a religious symbol, but as a sign of hope for encounters. He compared the historical journey to a relay where the baton has been passed from the original friars to subsequent missionaries, religious sisters, and lay pioneers, including priests who served mining towns and railroad camps in the 1800s.
The commemoration at the cathedral was part of a broader series of anniversary celebrations in the state. Other events included a commemoration at St. Helen Parish on Sept. 20 and a Spanish Fork City event on Sept. 18.
Several members of the diocesan clergy attended the service, including vicar general Father John Evans, cathedral rector Father Christopher Gray, judicial vicar Father Langes Silva, and emeritus vicar general Msgr. Colin Bircumshaw.
