Bishop Wester honored by Utah Catholic Schools

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester is shown with the 2014 Christ the Teacher Award after he received it during the Mass that opened the Professional Educator Day on March 14. IC photo/Marie Mischel

DRAPER — March 14 was a red-letter day for the Most Rev. John C. Wester, who celebrated not only the seventh anniversary of his installation as Bishop of Salt Lake City, but also received the 2014 Christ the Teacher Award by Utah Catholic Schools.

The award "is given for faithful service and commitment to Catholic schools," said Holy Cross Sister Catherine Kamphaus, superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools; in Bishop Wester’s case, that service has been not only to the Catholic schools in Utah but also in other dioceses in the United States, particularly the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

After being ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1976, Bishop Wester served as an associate pastor and pastor in Bay Area parishes and as a high school faculty member, director of campus ministry, high school president and assistant superintendent for secondary schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

"Bishop Wester is an advocate for Catholic education and for young people," said Holy Cross Sister Genevra Rolf, Utah Catholic Schools assistant superintendent, before the award was presented during the annual Professional Educator Day. "When he works with children and young people, they sense his interest and understanding. When the bishop addresses the educators of his diocese, he speaks from his experience and his words of gratitude reflect his years in Catholic school education and appreciation for the ministry of teaching and administration."

The award also acknowledged Bishop Wester’s teaching role as bishop and his service on United States Conference of Catholic Bishops committees, Sr. Genevra continued. "When Bishop Wester chaired the immigration committee he spoke for all of the bishops and took a leading role in teaching others of the dignity of the immigrant and the need for reform of the laws governing immigration. His background and experience in Catholic education make him well prepared to be a member of the education committee and the chair of the communications committees of USCCB."

In his comments after presenting Bishop Wester with the award, Msgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general, said the bishop writes well and is very articulate. "I don’t know of any bishop that we’ve had in this diocese who is more articulate on his feet. … Whatever the gathering is, he listens to what is going on and he can pull out a few gems and weave them together and say things so well."

Bishop Wester said he was grateful and honored to receive the award, "but in reality, you’re the ones who make me look good," he told the educators gathered at the Skaggs Center for the Mass at which the award was presented. "Just as you make me look good as your bishop, for those of you who are principals here, it’s your school – mainly your faculty, in my opinion – that makes you look good … and if you’re a teacher, your students make you look good."

In a lighter tone, he thanked "my producers: God, Mom and Dad; my director, Sister Cathy; best supporting actor, Msgr. Bircumshaw; and the cast of thousands – all of you who do so much to make me look good."