Bishop Wester installed as head of Salt Lake City Diocese

Published: 2007-03-19

SALT LAKE CITY (CNS) -- In a joyful afternoon ceremony that included nearly 60 bishops, archbishops and cardinals from across the country, Bishop John C. Wester was officially installed as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City March 14. Archbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco, the eighth bishop of Salt Lake City from 1995 to 2005, presided over the installation of Bishop Wester, who had served as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of San Francisco since 1998. Celebrated in both English and Spanish, the Mass centered on readings from the Book of Exodus, the First Letter of John and the story in the Gospel of John about Mary Magdalene's discovery of the empty tomb and her encounter with the risen Jesus. In his homily, Bishop Wester spoke of the many people who had formed him and helped prepare him for this day, including his father, the late Charles Wester. Bishop Wester told the crowd at the installation ceremony, "I am called to see and hear Christ through you. For you I am a bishop. With you I am a Christian."

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