A New Bishop

By now you’ve heard that Pope Francis has assigned Bishop John Charles Wester, current Bishop of Salt Lake City, as the new Archbishop of Santa Fe.  But why did we need a new Archbishop?  What was wrong with the old one?

By Church Law, bishops must submit their resignation to the Holy See upon reaching their 75^th birthday.  Rome then works to identify a new bishop for the diocese.  This may take anywhere from a few months to a year, or more.  If the retiring bishop is healthy he may continue to serve, as has Archbishop Michael, until the new bishop is named.

Just like everyone else, clergy members eventually retire.  In most dioceses, deacons and priests retire at the age of 65 or 70, although they may continue to serve (usually in a smaller capacity) if they are healthy and they and their bishop decide it’s in the best interest of the Church.  Cardinals don’t retire per se, but after they reach 80 they can no longer take part in voting for a new pope. 

After Archbishop Sheehan retires, he will remain here in New Mexico after Bishop Wester is installed.  As “Archbishop Emeritus” he will be available to assist parishes that need a priest and help the new Archbishop as needed. 

Bishop John Wester will be the 12^th Archbishop of Santa Fe.  He will be formally installed at a Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi on June 4^th.  Archbishop Elect Wester was born and raised in San Francisco and was ordained to the priesthood in 1976.  The 64-year old bishop was named Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1998 and Bishop of Salt Lake City in 2007.

Many are curious what the difference is between an Archbishop and a Bishop.  Every corner of the earth is part of a diocese, most people know that.  What most don’t know is that several dioceses are grouped together and are overseen by one bishop.  That bishop is the “Metropolitan” of that group of dioceses and he is called an Archbishop.  The Metropolitan Archbishop of Santa Fe has then certain obligations not only to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, but also the Dioceses of Gallup, Las Cruces, Phoenix, and Tucson: in effect all of New Mexico and Arizona.  Quite a job, indeed. 

Join us in praying for Archbishop Elect Wester and for our outgoing Archbishop, Michael Sheehan.  Let us thank Archbishop Sheehan for his 22 years of service to the people of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and welcome Bishop Wester.  May God continue to bless both of them and our diocese.