Archbishop Wester lauded by Hispanic community as 'a great representative of Christ'

Friday, May. 08, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — More than eight years ago, the Most Rev. John C. Wester was named the ninth Bishop of Salt Lake City.

On April 27, 2015 the news that he had been appointed Archbishop of Santa Fe was received with sorrow by Catholics in Utah.

Among the many achievements for which Utah’s Spanish-speaking Catholics recognize Archbishop Wester are that 64 Spanish-speaking people were certified as lay ecclesial ministers last year, and next year 17 men will be ordained as the first class of Spanish-speaking permanent deacons.

Also, since Archbishop Wester arrived in Utah, many parishes have opened their doors to Spanish and bilingual Masses. In addition, and the number of multicultural priests in the diocese has increased.

The archbishop has had a personal effect on many in the diocese.

When Archbishop George H. Niederauer was transferred from Salt Lake City to San Francisco, Maria Cruz Gray, director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry, thought she would retire, ”but my mind changed the moment I met John C. Wester,” Gray said. His pastoral courage, energy and intention to work with all the people of God “were some of the reasons that I stayed,” she said.

Gray said that she was very impressed that, when Archbishop Wester, who arrived from the cosmopolitan city of San Francisco, “he immediately won the heart of all the parishioners because he was always open. … He had that pastoral power, but most of all because of the love that he had for the Spanish-speaking people.”

Adding that she considers Archbishop Wester a great leader, Gray said she hopes that all the seeds he spread all over the diocese will grow.

“He has been a marvelous bridge between the Anglos and the Hispanics,” she said. Gray is also grateful for the Spanish-speaking lay ecclesiastic ministers, many of whom serve in the diocese’s missions, where 95 percent of Catholics speak Spanish, she said. 

“Undoubtedly, Archbishop Wester understands the importance of having well-prepared lay leaders to serve God,” added Marilyn Acosta, the archbishop’s executive assistant, who was certified through the lay ecclesial ministry program.

Acosta agreed with Gray about the generosity of Archbishop Wester. 

“He has been very generous with the Hispanic Catholics of this diocese. During his eight years as a bishop, he has participated in numerous activities and events throughout Utah, both at the parochial and diocesan level. He has supported many of the Hispanic traditions that many of us bring from our places of origin,” said Acosta.

That outreach includes other cultures, as well. For example, the annual diocesan Marian celebration started as a way of gathering all of the diocese’s different Catholic cultures, including Filipinos, Tongans, Vietnamese, Anglos, Polish, Germans, Irish, African, Korean and the various Hispanic groups. 

“Moreover, he has been a voice in social justice and immigration topics locally and nationally,” said Acosta.

Another legacy of Archbishop Wester for the Diocese of Salt Lake City was stewardship.

Since the beginning of his ministry in Utah, Archbishop Wester has studied Spanish, so “he has able to relate and understand  the Spanish-speaking people in our diocese, from the priests to our Hispanic communities. He also has an incredible capacity of listening. … He was one with us,” said Father Javier Virgen, the diocese’s Vicar for Hispanic Affairs and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna.

The pastoral interest that Archbishop Wester has shown for Hispanic Catholics has been very personal, Fr. Virgen said.

“He cares for everyone, Hispanic and not Hispanic, but because of the situation – that the number of Hispanic Catholics is growing – their needs were more immediate and visible, and Archbishop Wester focused, cultivated, helped and cared for this portion of the people of God that God entrusted him,” said Fr. Virgen, adding that the creation of the first group of Spanish-speaking permanent deacons will help address the needs of the growing Hispanic Catholic population. 

Sofia Palestino, Our Lady of Guadalupe parishioner, said she also will miss the archbishop a lot.

“He was unique. In our [Hispanic] countries we usually don’t have that personal contact with a bishop, and with him was totally the opposite – he was always there for us with a smile and time to listen to us. I am very grateful and honored to have met him”, said Palestino.

“I am saddened when I think that in a few weeks he will no longer be among us, but it makes me happy that Pope Francis has appointed him an archbishop, and the people of Santa Fe will rejoice to have a great shepherd among them,” said Acosta. 

“But we have to understand that God has called him to another pastoral territory so he can continue showing God’s compassion and love there. He is a man filled with God, with compassion, with care for everyone, no matter race, faith or nationality. He has a lot of compassion and he is always with the people no matter who they are,” added Fr. Virgen.