Reverend Michael R. Sciumbato
November 28, 1955 - April 27, 2024
It is with profound sadness and deep love that we announce the passing of our beloved brother, Reverend Michael R. Sciumbato, on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Father Mike returned to the loving arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ, due to complications from diabetes.
Father Mike was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to his loving parents, Rosario and Angelina Mirabelli Sciumbato, on November 28, 1955.
Father Mike was a true Renaissance man who had many talents and abilities. He used his gifts to pursue multiple educational and career paths during his lifetime.
He spent the first year of his undergraduate education at Creighton University and then completed his studies at the University of Utah, earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Journalism and Communications. Father Mike then entered law school, earning his Juris Doctorate degree from the S. J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah.
He then began his first career as an attorney and worked in private practice for the next eight years.
Father Mike heard our Lord calling him to become a priest. He responded to the call, and entered Mount Angel Seminary, earning a Master’s of Divinity in 1994. He was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City on June 25, 1994, by the Most Reverend William K Weigand. Father Mike then began his second career, holding many pastoral assignments throughout Utah over the next 28 years including: Saint Rose of Lima in Layton and St Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden; Saint Elizabeth in Richfield, including its missions in Torrey and Ephraim, and the Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison; Notre Dame de Lourdes in Price; Saint Francis of Assisi in Orem; Saint James in Ogden; Our Lady of Guadalupe in Salt Lake City; Pastoral Care at The University of Utah Hospital, Primary Children's Hospital, and the Huntsman Cancer Institute; Saint Ann and Kearns-Saint Ann Catholic School in Salt Lake City; and his final assignment was at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Ogden and Saint Florence Mission in Huntsville, Utah
Throughout his pastoral assignments and into his retirement, Father Mike utilized his broad legal expertise and fluency in Spanish to implement a third, parallel career providing low-cost immigration legal services throughout the state. In true Christ-like fashion, Father Mike felt strongly that immigration was an issue of social justice. Because of his commitment, he helped hundreds of individuals and families gain legal residency status to live a better life in the United States.
Father Mike was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his brother, James (Laura), his sister Linda Tsoufakis (Jim), and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
We extend our deepest gratitude to his cousins, Rose Graham and Ron Mirabelli, for providing much needed support and comfort to Father Mike throughout his pastoral assignments and during his illness.
Father Mike was the epitome of love, kindness, joy, and justice during his full life. If we all lived as he lived, this world would be a better place.
Viewing will be held on Monday, May 6, from 6 to 8 pm at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 2315 East Redondo Ave., Salt Lake City, UT, where vigil service will begin at 7:00 PM. The Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 7, at 11:00 am, also at St Ambrose Catholic Church. Committal Rite to follow at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 4th Avenue and “T” St., Salt Lake City.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Carmelite Nuns of Salt Lake City by clicking the donate button above.
Funeral Mass will be livestreamed. Please click the “Watch Service Live” button above to be directed to vieiwng link.
In Loving Memory
My Deepest condolences to all of you for the loss of the singing priest. He was our leader at St. Joseph . Possa riposare in pace. Possa la Luce perpetua brillare su di lui
Fr. Mike and family May you Rest in Peace God's Faithful servant! Love, hugs and prayers for your family. I remember singing in the choir with you at St. Anns before you were ordained a Priest even back then you spoke of your desire to become a Priest. Thank you for accepting the call to serve God's people.
My prayers and condolences �� are going out to Father Mike for the GOOD WORKS in GOD I was blessed to bare witness to in my life. I'm the father of Melaquias Clemente Romero, my son, who was given the funeral mass by Father Mike in May 2021. I will also remember and hold dear to my heart Father Mike and the LORDS WORK he performed as my son was called to heaven, he gave the most HEAVENLY HOMILY during my sons funeral. Father is and was in my prayers during his time of suffering and a great deal of my LIFE being rekindled with the HOLY SPIRIT I owe to Father Mike. Malachi's cross/crucifix was given to him by Father Mike at the time of my sons burial and I'd like Father Mike and his family to have it in loving memory of the GOOD WORK Father Mike has done for my son and me in GODS NAME I ���� pray May the GOOD LORD, our GOD BLESS you and keep you FATHER MIKE, in GODS HOUSE may you live in peace of our GOD YOU will be greatly missed by the Romero family and my son, Malachi pictures of Malachi my son I left for you Father Mike and family of how much you were and are LOVED BY me and my son Malachi. amen ����
Our heart felt sympathies on the passing of Fr.Mike. He was a remarkable person who was so generous with all his talents. May his memories comfort you all in the times to come. God knew he was tired and it was time to call him home. God bless his memory. Maureen & Joseph Gallegos
My deepest condolences to the family of Father Mike my prayers are with you. Father Mike has been in my life for at least 46 years, maybe longer, my first memory of him is when I was 5. He was my mom's very best friend. I remember the roar of laughter whenever they were together and the gathering at my Aunt’s, those were some of my best child hood memories. I have always loved Father Mike, he always gave it to me strait, even if I did not want to hear it. I had no idea what an impact he would have on my family’s life, but he sure did. When he became the Pastor at St. Ann’s parish it was one the happiest days for my family. It was the new beginning to my faith. He made sure we were always involved and made me love mass again. Father Mike you blessed my husband, myself and my son’s in so many ways, you will be forever missed but never forgotten my dear friend. We love you always, and I know with all my heart you were embraced in the Lords arms when you arrived. Your family, The Avila’s
Father Mike was truly a blessing to me. He cared for his sheep on a personal basis. He was my spiritual director and helped me with guidance with many personal issues, including problems with my children. He blessed my house. He also paid a personal visit to me at my home to bring me the prayers for a novena, due to the fact that I was unable to attend the Novena at the church. God bless him for his care and concern for those who are incarcerated. He had a true understanding of those imprisoned, that they are also children of God. Along with his education as an attorney, he helped many immigrants to make their lives legal and successful here in the United states. He was a special, caring, loving priest with great knowledge of the Catholic faith. Also because of one of his homilies, I now donate 10% of my income. I didn't realize how far off I was from donating my 10% till he gave that homily. He will truly be missed. I know that he is in the hands of God where he can now be at peace and rest. God bless our loving priest Father Mike. Amen
Fr. Mike was a beautiful person who would caringly spread compassion and love to every person he met. I had the blessing to meet Fr. Mike at St. Ann's Catholic School during my 2015-2017 middle school. I had previously attended public schooling and transitioning into a private religous school was a very new experience for me. Despite being raised Catholic, there was so much to learn and discover about christianity. Fr. Mike gave me my first Bible and blessed it, something I still keep and cherish dearly. He taught me how to pray the Rosary, and he conducted my Communion and Confirmation day, he married my parents, baptized my two brothers, and was my religion teacher. His sermons made me love coming to church and he helped me grow closer to God as he held mass with a unique and contagious enthusiasm. I saw how much he appreciated and loved his community when held Bingo Night every other Saturday for them. He had a talented passion for cooking and singing. He meant a lot to my family and I. We love Fr. Mike and send our deepest condolensces to his family. We will pray for Fr. Mike to rest in peace. We miss him dearly. Thank you Fr. Mike for being the reason my faith was empowered and for helping me grow closer to Christ.
My condolences to Father mikes family. Father Mike was a very good and caring preist. I Remeber When my parents served as catequists in the church of saint ann we would spend the whole day in the church and Father mike would take us out to eat since we haven't eaten. I remember i was around 7 when i first met him. He always had a way in saying stuff to you that he didn't like. I have never seen him be mean to a person.I remember He was such a Kinda and loving soul. I would have never imagine this happen to him May he rest in peace in God's Presence.
Fr. Mike worked his heart and soul out at St. Francis of Assisi. He raised money to pay off our first construction debt. He worked many hours offering free legal services for folks needing help with immigration papers. His Masses were well celebrated and his homilies were wonderful to hear. He did hospital visits and home visits, whatever was needed. He was loved by many. I'm sure there was a great reunion of Fr. Mike with his parents. Prayers for his siblings and family who will miss him.
Our Deepest Condolences to the Sciumbato family . Father Mike will always leave in our hearts Sincerely Palestino Family
Mis mayores condolencias y pésame para su familia que DIOS lo tenga en su gloria
Dear Family. I first met Fr. Mike at CYO (Catholic Youth Organization), he was seventeen and I was sixteen. He knew how to have a good time and loving his faith at the same time. He was so much fun and aways the life of the party! We were so young and full of promise. He was so easy to love and respect. I knew that he was eventually going to be an amazing priest! God bless you all at this very difficult time. Michelle Jones
We remember fondly our too brief times together and Father Mike's infectious humor. Our condolences to all, your cousins, Tom and Joan Facelle and Family
Father Mike was a distant cousin. He went to South High School with my sister, Dana. He had quite the personality and used to make us laugh. He was outgoing and energetic. We asked him to conduct the funeral Mass for our mother, Gloria Guido when she passed away. He had a beautiful voice and sang the Mass parts. We are so sorry that he has passed away. He will be missed. We would like to extend our prayers and condolences to his family.
It was such a priviege to work with Fr. Mike for better immigration policies at both the State and National level back when the threat of deportation was so prevalent. He always managed to stay opptimistic.
I had the good fortune of encountering Fr. Mike in three phases of his varied life. I first met him in a television news production class at the University of Utah. Later, as a reporter at The Salt Lake Tribune covering police and courts I used to run into him in the old 5th Circuit Court at 200 East before the new main library was built. Later, my wife and I bought a house at 668 Redondo Avenue where one day as I was working on our lawn I saw a guy who looked familiar doing the same thing next door. It was Fr. Mike helping out his brother and mother. He was wearing a clerical collar, and that's when I learned he'd become a priest. Finally, somehow we encountered him at a church service in southern Utah, and Cathy, my wife, met him again at a rest home where her mother was for a while. In all those times, the two things I remember are his infectious laughter and his marvelous unending half smile that seemed to convey how much he enjoyed life. He was part of the solution. God bless him.
I was lucky to know father Mike at st rose in Layton the time he was here made an inpacked in our life's that we will not forget he was so welcoming in to his life that it felt like we had known him all our lifes frothe kids to my mother that did speak inglish we all took him to our hearts we are so lucky to have had him as one of our family god blessed all of us having him in our life's thank you fr Mike
In Loving Memory
