Diocesan Pastoral Center Staff Members Offer Memories, Say Farewell to Archbishop Wester

Friday, May. 29, 2015

It has been a pleasure, blessing, and honor to work with Archbishop Wester.  His commitment to the social mission of the church and his ability to promote Catholic teaching on controversial topics in a pastoral manner has been inspiring and instructive for me, and I hope for many of my fellow Catholics. Archbishop Wester has never shied away from saying what is unpopular so long as it has also been the right thing to do. The Diocese of Salt Lake City served as a strong voice for immigrants, the homeless, the imprisoned, the marginalized, and many others during Archbishop’s Wester tenure, and we will miss his clear example of how to truly abide in Christ.

Government Liaison

Dear Archbishop John C. Wester, 

Thank you for your commitment, service and generous dedication to our seminarians, and thank you for your continuous interest promoting vocations to the priesthood, religious life and permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. 

We pray to Our Lord to always be with you in your new ministry as the pastor of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

May God be with you!

Vocations Director

He began his time here with quiet listening. He was our new bishop and we connected instantly when he asked us about our families and our hobbies and our visions for ministry. Over the years, I found him unfailingly kind. He made us laugh out loud with his quick wit. I felt proud of his stand on immigration reform and knew he cared deeply about people on the margins. In his public persona, I saw a dignified, determined and loving face of the Church. He offered hope and encouragement and built good relationships with other faith leaders. 

I remember the remarkable address he delivered in Washington D.C. at the National Association for Lay Ministry convention. Afterward, people said: “ You are so fortunate to have him as your Ordinary!” and our small contingent  from Utah smiled. 

Above all, Bishop Wester was a happy priest who embraced his vocation with joy.  I cherish memories of the peaceful morning Masses in our chapel. He handled suffering with quiet courage.  I remember his support and trust in others. His preaching and blessings remain as a legacy to help us build the Kingdom.  

Director, Office of Religious Education

After Bishop Wester was installed, we were at an event and something he said made me realize he was the first bishop who was of my generation, the Baby Boomers. 

I see in Archbishop Wester a willingness to take to the streets our Catholic teaching on many issues, especially social justice issues, which always touch the family. 

I will never forget the image of brown hands reaching through a border fence to receive Communion at the Mass he and his brother bishops celebrated. 

This is an archbishop who grew up with women in many different roles. He understands, because of family relationships, what it is like for a woman to be widowed early and become a single mother. 

Because of his work as a teacher, he taught and interacted with latchkey children and understood the family dynamics that produced that situation. 

When a reporter asked if there were going to be any women on the panel to select his successor – the implication being that women had no power in the Church – the room filled with laughter. Approximately 85 percent of his department heads are women. 

He understands the contributions that women make not only to the Church, but to society as well. I always felt listened to and felt as if my opinion mattered.

When he spoke of his family, it was with love and concern for not only siblings, but for his nieces and nephews also. His care and concern for his mother is touching. 

Bishop John understands family. It showed in his caring for the immigrant population, always the family component is mentioned. He is able to reach out to those who are marginalized, without diminishing Catholic teaching.      

Director, Office of Family Life

You changed Catholic Utah forever and always. 

Thank you, Archbishop Wester, for your support of the Catholic Foundation of Utah; for eight years you have been our faithful shepherd and guiding light. You will remain in our hearts and prayers.

May God bless you,

Through episcopal consecration itself, bishops receive the function of sanctifying, teaching and governing, and exercise them in communion with the Holy Father, the members of the episcopal college and the clerics in every particular Church. May you, Archbishop Wester, continue your episcopal ministry for the People of God with joy and exultation in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, N.M. 

Abundance of blessings to you for everything you did for the People of God in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

Judicial Vicar & Vice-Chancellor

On behalf of the Diocesan Finance Office and all finance managers serving in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, we offer our warmest congratulations to Archbishop John on his appointment to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and extend our sincere appreciation for all his support and ministry to our mission diocese.  

May God bless him on his new journey, 

On a personal note, Archbishop John, it has been a privilege to serve as your diocesan finance officer for the past eight years. 

Wishing you joy and good health always,  — Joan

Like many of us, I first met Bishop Wester at a reception in the social hall at St. Ann Parish after Evening Prayer – the first service he conducted in Utah. 

When I introduced myself to him, I said, “I work for you.” 

His immediate response was, “Actually, I work for you.” 

I thought, “Wow. I think I’ll start loving this guy right now and avoid the rush.” But I was too late, for the rush had already begun, and it was to continue unabated for the next eight years. 

Those eight years would continually confirm that he was indeed working for me and for the rest of us. He would become a nurturing spiritual leader, an incomparable colleague and a dear friend.

Two of the projects on which I worked directly with him are particularly precious to me. One was an hour-long videotaped conversation at his residence in which we talked about Utah Catholic history for his “Tuesday Tapestry” series. Although I had drawn up a list of the topics we were to discuss, it was apparent that he was already well versed in the subject, that he took his ministry here with all its inherent difficulties very seriously, and that he was mindful of his great predecessors and the rich tradition within which he was operating.

The other project was my book The Story of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, which I wrote to commemorate the centennial of the cathedral in 2009. I made bold to ask him to write the Foreword, though I knew I was presuming upon his time, which could well have been devoted to more pressing and important matters. But in the generous way that is his nature, he agreed to do it, and it turned out to be a most eloquent – indeed, poetic – essay, which greatly enhanced the value of the book.

Archbishop Wester, we, your coworkers, give you up only reluctantly, but we do so in the realization that God has work for you on a larger stage, so we accede to His will. We will miss your sincere humility, your accessibility, your wit and your humor. What will stay with us, though, is the enlargement of our compassion, our social commitments, and our spiritual lives that you brought to us. 

To me there is a poignant symbolism in the fact that one of the last Masses you celebrated here before receiving the news of your reassignment was Good Shepherd Sunday. Like Jesus Himself, you are the Good Shepherd, and our lives have been vastly improved by your shepherding. Go with God.

Archivist, Diocese of Salt Lake City

As noted in the recent “Christopher News Notes,” gratitude is learned in childhood by saying “thank you,” and we are frequently conveying our gratefulness by vocalizing that phrase. However, there are situations or occasions when this expression does not truly convey your feelings. The departure of Archbishop John C. Wester, as the shepherd of the Body of Christ in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, is definitely one of the occasions when our gratitude cannot be conveyed in words. But in this format, words will have to do.

Regretfully, Archbishop Wester, you are leaving us, yet you will remain in our presence as your sense of humor, storytelling and laughter will not be forgotten. 

Additionally, the commitments and endeavors you have developed and supported during your service as bishop will serve as a foundation for further stability and growth in the diocese. 

This will particularly be evident through the 17 Catholic Spanish-speaking men who, we pray, will soon be ordained deacons to serve their fellow parishioners in parishes and missions throughout the state of Utah. These 17 candidates, their spouses and families along with the staff of the Diaconate Formation office extend our heartfelt gratitude and a sincere thank you! 

We wish you a loving farewell, and please know that you will also be remembered in our prayers as you pursue your new quest.

Director, Diaconate Formation

Though saddened by the loss of our shepherd, Archbishop John Wester, we wish him God’s blessings as he endeavors to serve the faithful of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

We thank Archbishop Wester for being a living example of faithful Christian stewardship. His willingness to give freely of his time, talents and treasure is an example for all. It is because of his leadership and vision that we are a stewardship diocese. 

Thank you for your faithful service to the people of God in the State of Utah, and may God grant you many years of fruitful service among the faithful of the Diocese of Santa Fe.  

Catholic Community Services of Utah would like to express our sincere love and appreciation to the Most Reverend John C. Wester for his exemplary leadership and spiritual guidance over the last eight years. CCS has been the beneficiary of his wisdom and insight as we work to better the lives of those most in need in our community; he will be missed more than words can express. 

We are pleased with his new appointment as Archbishop of Santa Fe and wish him the very best in his future endeavors. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe is extremely fortunate to be getting such an honorable man and wonderful leader.

CCS will be forever grateful for the time and energy Bishop Wester has given to so many throughout the great state of Utah and wish him well in his new appointment as Archbishop of Santa Fe. We look forward to witnessing his future accomplishments and success.”    

The Intermountain Catholic editorial staff has, I think, a unique perspective on the Bishop of Salt Lake City. One or another of us is almost invariably pointing a camera or a tape recorder at him during public events, and often at private gatherings, as well. Despite this, Archbishop Wester has always been not only cordial but genuinely friendly, asking after our families and sincerely thanking us and complimenting our work.

Our office staff has less interaction with him, but at Pastoral Center events he always takes time to greet them and talk with them. Also, we all are very grateful that, when offices at the Pastoral Center were being reorganized, he allowed us to remain in this beautiful Sacred Heart building.

On a personal note, I would like to thank you, Archbishop Wester, for your example of faith. Because of it I have started down the path toward a right relationship with God, and you have given me the confidence to continue once you are gone. I will miss your gentle humor, your intelligent commentary, and your leadership, but your example will always stand before me. — Marie

It was indeed an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to work with you to help communicate the Good News across Utah. Finding new ways to evangelize and expand our reach via all the social media channels has been an exciting adventure. I also appreciate your willingness to make sure I (almost) always get the photos from your events! You have been a wonderful example of how to work with the media and I will not soon forget your skill and savvy. I will continue to follow you on Twitter and look forward to your gems in 140 characters. Here’s to the next 3000! Prayers from all of my family and me as you take on your new pastoral responsibilities in Santa Fe. 

Vaya con Dios. 

Director, Office of Communications