Welcome Bishop Wester

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KSL joins members of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City and the broader community in welcoming Bishop John C. Wester to Utah.

Bishop Wester comes here from San Francisco where he was born and raised, and has served his church for many years. He will be formally installed as the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City on March 14, but he was introduced to his flock and the public at a news conference on Monday.

Two things stand out from the comments he made then.

First, his awareness that Utah is growing dramatically, and so is his church. Bishop Wester faces the challenge of guiding an expanding diocese, spawned in large part by an influx of immigrants from Latin lands. Dealing with the spiritual as well as the political nuances of that dynamic will test both his pastoral and administrative skills.

Second, was his expressed desire to become involved in what he described as the "wonderful ecumenical and interfaith spirit in this diocese." If he can be as successful at building bridges of understanding as his predecessor, Bishop George Niederauer, his ministry will be a blessing to all Utahns.

So, welcome Bishop Wester. It's good to have you here. The community looks forward to getting to know you.