The mission of the Marianist Lecture is to
foster dialogue on Catholic thought and Catholic responsibility.
Nuclear Weapons: It’s 89 Seconds to Midnight—
Does Anybody Care?
with Archbishop John Charles Wester
Sunday, October 12, 2025 | 4 PM
Mystical Rose Oratory, Chaminade University
Livestream: Mystical Rose Oratory Facebook page
Registration Encouraged, Not Required
About the Speaker
Archbishop John Charles Wester has served as the Archbishop of Santa Fe since 2015. He previously served as Bishop of Salt Lake City from 2007 to 2015 and as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of San Francisco from 1998 to 2007.
Archbishop Wester was born in San Francisco, California, the fourth generation of his family born there. He attended Our Lady of Mercy Parish School in Daly City, California, and graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Mountain View, California, in 1972, before attending St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. There he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1976. Wester received a Master of Applied Science degree from the University of San Francisco in 1984 and then a Master of Spiritual Theology degree from Holy Names College in Oakland, California, in 1993.
Wester was ordained a priest by Archbishop Joseph McGucken for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco on May 15, 1976.
After his 1976 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Wester as associate pastor at Saint Raphael Parish in San Rafael, California. In 1979, he was appointed as 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, Archbishop John R. Quinn named Wester as his assistant. On June 30, 1998, Pope John Paul II appointed Wester as an auxiliary bishop of San Francisco. During the ensuing years, he held a number of diocesan roles, including moderator of the Curia, vicar for clergy, and vicar general of the archdiocese.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as bishop of Salt Lake City in 2007, and in 2015, Pope Francis appointed Wester as archbishop for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
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.
Other national responsibilities include: member of the Catholic Mutual Executive Board; member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains Board; member of the Founders’ Board for Catholic Relief Services; Episcopal Moderator of the National Association for Lay Ministry; and Episcopal Consultant for the Association of Catholic Priests.
About the Lecture Series
The Marianist Lecture is sponsored by the Marianist Center of Hawaii, Chaminade University, and St. Louis School.
The lecture fosters inclusive dialogue on Catholic Thought and Catholic Responsibility, gathering at the Kalaepohaku campus in a spirit of community and with a sense of place.
The Mackey Award for Catholic Thought is given to each presenter in honor of Fr. Robert Mackey, SM, the first President of Chaminade University. Fr. Mackey was an important voice in the civic and religious community of Honolulu. This lecture series seeks to continue his commitment to Catholic Thought and Catholic Responsibility in the world.
The Mackey Award for Catholic Thought honors scholarly, community and faith leaders whose body of work advances the spirit, charism and educational mission of the Society of Mary and the Marianist Family.
This event is sponsored by:
