Founding Choir School Bishop Retires

On May 25, 1996, after months of a feasibility study and many meetings, then Salt Lake City Bishop George Niederauer approved the opening of a new school at the Cathedral of the Madeleine: The Madeleine Choir School. On Friday of last week, now Archbishop Niederauer, who was named the Eighth Archbishop of San Francisco in 2005, received word that his successor had been appointed and he was able to begin his much deserved retirement.

The Choristers met the Archbishop this last February when they traveled to the Bay Area on a performance tour and celebrated Mass in San Francisco's St. Mary's Cathedral. At age 75, he was looking forward to the appointment of his successor at that time! Archbishop Niederauer is remembered fondly for his imaginative preaching, his efforts to bring divided communities and factions together, and his call for more tolerance of one another despite our differences. One among many memorable lines: "Three words which are troubling in both the realms of prayer and dieting: I'll start tomorrow."

We are grateful for the many years of Archbishop Niederauer's service, both here in Salt Lake City and in San Francisco. We are especially grateful to him for his confidence and support in getting the Choir School started, and we hope that the years ahead will be both restful and rewarding.