Laura Vallejo

Young adults get to know other young Catholics in a recent speed-dating activity sponsored by the Young Adult Council. OREM — Dozens of Catholic young adults gathered in the St. Francis of Assisi Parish gymnasium on June 13 to celebrate the Catholic Connections 2.0. The event, designed for singles aged 21 to 35, was the first speed-dating event celebrated specifically for Catholics, said Michael Edwards, director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, which helped organize the event along with the diocesan Young Adult Council to help single Catholic young adults meet others, resulting in new friendships and possible romance.

SALT LAKE CITY — As the people of Venezuela work to stabilize their lives after last week’s two powerful earthquakes, Catholics in Utah are offering prayers and gathering donations to help.Authorities in Venezuela have called the earthquakes the worst disaster in more than a century. Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela’s National Assembly president, has said that the number of people killed has risen to almost 2,000, with more than 10,000 injured and tens of thousands of people still unaccounted for. It is estimated that 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed by the two earthquakes, which happened within seconds of each other at 6:04 p.m. on June 24. One measured magnitude 7.2; the other, 7.5.On June 26, Bishop Oscar A. Solis asked local Catholics to pray for the repose of the souls of those who were killed in the earthquakes, for the recovery of the injured and for the well-being of those who were missing. He also asked for prayers for the people assisting the displaced and working to recover missing people. In addition, he urged all pastors and administrators throughout the Diocese of Salt Lake City to include petitions for the people of Venezuela at all Masses during this past weekend.

The fire started June 22 and has grown rapidly due to high temperatures, strong winds and extremely dry vegetation conditions. It is the sixth largest in the history of the state and currently the largest fire in the United States.

DRAPER — The annual family Congress offered by the Diocesan Charismatic Renewal will be Aug. 1-2. Presenters will include Father Jose Barrera-Hernandez, pastor of San Felipe Parish in Wendover; Father Andre Sicard, parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Madeleine; Fr. Jorge Roldan, spiritual advisor to the Diocesan Charismatic Renewal and pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Salt Lake City; and Fr. Jonathan Tavera from the Archdiocese of Tlanepantla in Mexico.

SALT LAKE CITY — Overcoming prejudice and promoting tolerance were among the goals for a monthlong program involving 18 teenagers in Utah, part of an international effort known as the Ulster Project.

PAYSON — A two-day catechism formation class at San Andres Catholic Church in Payson, which will be presented in Spanish, is being planned by the Diocese of Salt Lake City Office of Hispanic Ministry. The class will be limited to 125 people.“We decided to offer this formation in person because we believe that the catechist formation is not only to receive the information, but we also have to be present, accompany and form the disciple missionaries,” said Angel Garcia, director of the Hispanic Ministry office.

SANDY — Becca Moore, MSEd, MAEL, is the new principal at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in Sandy.Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wyoming, completed an alternative route to licensure in elementary education at the University of Wyoming, and holds two master’s degrees: one in education, curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in reading and literacy from the University of Kansas, and another in educational leadership from the University of Notre Dame.

DRAPER — For Vanessa Jacobs, becoming principal of Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper is “in many ways … like returning home,” she said, because she had taught AP art history and Spanish at the school in 2013 before becoming assistant principal there. Then, two years ago, she was named principal of Saint John the Baptist Middle School, which shares the Skaggs Catholic Center Campus in Draper with the high school, as well as an elementary and day care center.She has been part of the Skaggs Catholic Center for the past 14 years, and is also an adjunct professor for Fletcher Technical Community College in Louisiana.

DRAPER — As a seventh-grader, Conrad Mergenthal has achieved a rare feat: being selected for the Little League World Series playoffs.Conrad, a student at Saint John the Baptist Middle School, was one of 12 boys to represent Utah in this year’s Little League World Series - Mountain Regional playoffs.

More than 120 catechists from all over the Diocese of Salt Lake City gathered on Aug. 15 at San Andres Parish in Payson to attend the first part of the catechist formation training in Spanish, organized by the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry. The second part of the formation will take place on Sept. 12. A similar formation class in English is on the works.