Archbishop J. Peter Sartain D.D., S.T.L.

Archbishop Peter Sartain (pronounced SAR-tin) was born to Joseph and Catherine Sartain on June 6, 1952 in Memphis, Tennessee.

On July 15, 1978 he was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Memphis.

Archbishop Sartain attended Memphis State University 1970-71 before earning his bachelor’s degree in English at St. Meinrad College, Indiana in 1974. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome in 1977, and earned a licentiate of sacred theology with specialization in sacramental theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum San Anselmo in Rome in 1979.

He was appointed associate pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Memphis from 1979 to 1981 and served as pastor of St. Louis Church from 1992 to 2000. From 1981 to 2000 he held numerous positions in the Diocese of Memphis including director of vocations, chancellor, moderator of the curia, vicar for clergy and vicar general. He was the diocesan administrator for the Diocese of Memphis from Sept. 9, 1992 to May 5, 1993 while the See of Memphis was vacant.

Pope John Paul II appointed Archbishop Sartain bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock, Ark., on January 4, 2000. He was ordained on March 6, 2000 and took as his episcopal motto: “Of You My Heart Has Spoken” (Psalm 27:8). He was appointed bishop of Joliet, Ill., by Pope Benedict XVI on May 16, 2006 and was installed on June 27.

Archbishop Sartain currently is a member of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.