| Appointed: | April 27, 2015 |
| Birth Date: | November 5, 1950 |
| Birth Name: | John Charles Wester |
| Birth Place: | San Francisco, California |
| Coat Of Arms: | coat of arms of John Charles Wester.svg |
| Coat Of Arms Alt: | per chevron argent and blue a sacred heart, Marian rose and bible all proper--> |
| Consecration: | September 18, 1998 |
| Enthroned: | June 4, 2015 |
| Motto: | Abide in Christ |
| John Charles Wester | |
| Ordination: | May 15, 1976 |
| Signature: | John Charles Wester signature.svg |
| Type: | bishop |
| Dipstyle: | |
| John Charles Wester | |
John Charles Wester (born November 5, 1950) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Santa Fe since 2015. He previously served as Bishop of Salt Lake City from 2007 to 2015 and as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of San Francisco from 1998 to 2007.
John 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 in Mountain View, California, in 1972 before attending St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1976. Wester received a Master of Applied Science degree from the University of San Francisco in 1984, and then a Master of Spiritual Theology degree from Holy Names College in Oakland, California in 1993.
Wester was ordained a priest by Archbishop Joseph McGucken for the Archdiocese of San Francisco on May 15, 1976. After his ordination, Wester was appointed associate pastor at Saint Raphael Parish in San Rafael, California. In 1979, he became a teacher and director of campus ministry at Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, California. Wester later became president of the high school and eventually assistant superintendent for high schools for the archdiocese. In 1988, he was named as assistant to the archbishop. Wester's first appointment as pastor was at Saint Stephen Parish in San Francisco in 1993. Wester returned to the Pastoral Center in 1997 to become the vicar for clergy, where he was named a monsignor by the Vatican.
On June 30, 1998, Pope John Paul II appointed Wester as titular bishop of Lamiggiga and as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.[1] He received his episcopal consecration from Cardinal William Levada on September 18, 1998. 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. Wester was heavily involved in sexual abuse cases in the archdiocese, meeting with victims and accused clergy.[2]
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Wester as bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City on January 8, 2007.[3] He was installed there on March 14, 2007.[4]
On April 27, 2015, Pope Francis appointed Wester as archbishop for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.[5] He was installed there on June 4, 2015.[6]
Since his consecration, Wester has been involved with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (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.
Wester has also been a strong advocate against the death penalty and for nuclear disarmament, among other social issues.