John Charles Wester

John Charles Wester, (born November 5, 1950) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the twelfth Archbishop of the Santa Fe since 2015. He has been a bishop since 1998 and was Bishop of Salt Lake City from 2007 to 2015.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend John Charles Wester
Archbishop of Santa Fe
Archdiocese	Santa Fe
Appointed	April 27, 2015
Installed	June 4, 2015
Predecessor	Michael Jarboe Sheehan
Other posts	Chairman of USCCB Communications Committee
Orders
Ordination	May 15, 1976
Consecration	September 18, 1998 by William Joseph Levada, John R. Quinn, and Patrick Joseph McGrath
Personal details
Birth name	John Charles Wester
Born	(1950-11-05) November 5, 1950 San Francisco, California
Previous post	Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco Bishop of Salt Lake City
Alma mater	Saint Patrick Seminary
Motto	ABIDE IN CHRIST

Styles of John Charles Wester
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Early life and education

John Charles Wester was born in San Francisco, California, on November 5, 1950, the fourth generation of his family born there. Wester attended Our Lady of Mercy Parish School in Daly City, California.

Wester graduated from St. Joseph's College Seminary, Mountain View, California, in 1972, and then attended St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1976. Wester went on to earn a Master of Applied Science (M.A.S.) from the University of San Francisco in 1984, and then a Master of Arts (MA) in spiritual theology at the Holy Names College in Oakland, California in 1993.

Early career

Wester was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco on May 15, 1976.[1] He was appointed Associate Pastor at Saint Raphael Parish in San Rafael. In 1979, he became a teacher and Director of Campus Ministry at Marin Catholic High School. Wester later became President of the high school and eventually Assistant Superintendent for High Schools. In 1988, he became Assistant to the Archbishop.

Wester's first appointment as pastor was at Saint Stephen Parish in San Francisco in 1993.

Bishop

Wester returned to the Pastoral Center in 1997 to become the vicar for clergy, where he was named a monsignor.

On June 30, 1998, Pope John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Lamiggiga and an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on September 18, 1998.[3] Wester then served as moderator of the curia until 2003. While he was episcopal vicar for clergy, Wester also served as vicar general of the archdiocese. He also served as Apostolic Administrator from August 2005 to February 2006.[3]

Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Salt Lake City on January 8, 2007.[1] He was installed there on March 14, 2007.[4]

On April 27, 2015, Pope Francis appointed Wester as Archbishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Fe.[3] He was installed there on June 4, 2015.[5]

Since his consecration, Wester has been involved with the USCCB as a member of the Bishops Committee on Vocations, Chairman of Northern California Ch'an/Zen-Catholic Dialogue, Consultant for the Subcommittee on Interreligious Dialogue, member of the Migration Committee, the Pastoral Practices Committee, World Mission Committee, the Subcommittee on Lay Ministry, and as the USCCB bishop-liaison to Asia.

References

1. "Rinunce e nomine, 08.01.2007" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. January 8, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
2. Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). XC. 1998. p. 634. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
3. "Rinunce e nomine, 27.04.2015" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. April 27, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
4. Stinson Lee, Barbara (March 16, 2007). "Bishop John C. Wester installed with joy, gratitude". Intermountain Catholic. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
5. Mischel, Marie (June 12, 2015). "Archbishop Wester installed in Santa Fe". Intermountain Catholic. Retrieved February 21, 2020.

External links

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe Official Site
• USCCB Bishop Listing
• Catholic Professional and Business Club Biography of Wester
• Announcement of Wester becoming Auxiliary Bishop
• Diocese of Salt Lake City announcement of Wester becoming Bishop
• Diocese of Salt Lake City Biography of Wester

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Michael Jarboe Sheehan	Archbishop of Santa Fe June 2, 2015 – present	Incumbent
Preceded by George Hugh Niederauer	Bishop of Salt Lake City January 8, 2007 – April 27, 2015	Succeeded by Oscar A. Solis
Preceded by Gonzalo Duarte García de Cortázar	Titular Bishop of Lamiggiga June 30, 1998 – January 8, 2007	Succeeded by José Luis Mendoza Corzo