John Charles Wester

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

John Charles Wester
Archbishop of Santa Fe
ArchdioceseSanta Fe
AppointedApril 27, 2015
InstalledJune 4, 2015
PredecessorMichael Jarboe Sheehan
Other post(s)Chairman of USCCB Communications Committee
Orders
OrdinationMay 15, 1976
ConsecrationSeptember 18, 1998
by William Joseph Levada, John R. Quinn, and Patrick Joseph McGrath
Personal details
Birth nameJohn Charles Wester
Born (1950-11-05) November 5, 1950 (age 71)
San Francisco, California
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco
Bishop of Salt Lake City
Alma materSaint Patrick Seminary
MottoABIDE IN CHRIST
Styles of
John Charles Wester
Coat of arms of John Charles Wester.svg
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop

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.

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.

Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco[]

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]

Bishop of Salt Lake City[]

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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "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[]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Santa Fe
June 2, 2015 – present 		Incumbent
Preceded by 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
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