Background
John Charles Wester was born in San Francisco, California, on November 5, 1950, the fourth generation of his family born there.
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 Saint Joseph"s College Seminary, Mountain View, California, in 1972, and then attended Saint Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1976.
Of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Pope John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Lamiggiga and auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. After becoming auxiliary bishop, Wester held the title of moderator of the curia until 2003.
While he was episcopal vicar for clergy, Wester also served as vicar general of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
In 2007 Wester was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. On April 27, 2015 Wester was appointed by Pope Francis to succeed Michael Jarboe Sheehan as the twelfth Archbishop of Santa Fe.
Early life and clerical formation
Wester went on to earn a Master of Applied Science (MAS) from the University of San Francisco in 1984, and then a Master of Arts (Master of Arts) in spiritual theology at the Holy Names College in Oakland, California in 1993. Priestly apostolate
Wester was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco on May 15, 1976 at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco.
Wester later went on the become President of the high school, and eventually was named 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. Episcopacy
Wester returned to the Pastoral Center in 1997 to become the vicar for clergy, where he was named a monsignor.
The following year, Pope John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Lamiggiga and an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
After his consecration on September 18, 1998, Wester 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 was installed as Bishop of Salt Lake City by Metropolitan Archbishop of San Francisco George Hugh Niederauer on March 14, 2007, at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Memberships and Special Responsibilities.