Wester was ordained a priest by Archbishop Joseph McGucken for the Archdiocese of San Francisco on May 15, 1976.[1] 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.
Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco
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.[2] He received his episcopal consecration from Cardinal William Levada on September 18, 1998.[3] 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.[3] Wester was heavily involved in sexual abuse cases in the archdiocese, meeting with victims and accused clergy.[4]
Bishop of Salt Lake City
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Wester as bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City on January 8, 2007.[1] He was installed there on March 14, 2007.[5]
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.