Archbishop J. Peter Sartain

Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock

Archbishop J. Peter Sartain’s six years as bishop of Little Rock marked by far the shortest length of service in diocesan history, but it was time well spent. The youthful prelate’s intellect, piety and charm inspired thousands, many on a deeply personal level. Archbishop Sartain (then Bishop Sartain) had an uncanny knack for remembering names and devoted his full attention to every conversation.

James Peter Sartain was born in Memphis, Tenn. and was ordained on July 15, 1978 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception after studying for the priesthood in Indiana and Rome. At the time of his episcopal appointment, Father Sartain was vicar general of the Diocese of Memphis and pastor of St. Louis Church. He had vacationed in neighboring Arkansas and made retreats at Subiaco Abbey.

His installation as the sixth bishop of Little Rock on March 6, 2000, drew 2,600 Catholics to Robinson Auditorium. The new shepherd’s shared focus became fostering religious vocations among the youth — he visited often with seminarians and their families — while ministering to the state’s burgeoning Hispanic population, notably in northwest Arkansas. He took a crash course in Spanish at the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio in 2001.

Bishop Sartain built on a foundation laid by his predecessor, Bishop McDonald, by continuing to celebrate Masses said on a statewide scale in both English and Spanish and by re-emphasizing the need for priests and seminarians to learn the second language.

He dedicated new parishes organized by Hispanic immigrants in Danville and Glenwood, led an eight-day diocesan pilgrimage to Mexico in 2004, ordained a Mexican-born priest and deacon, and joined the nation’s bishops in calling for immigration reform with an emphasis on human dignity. Many Mexican-born immigrants worked in poultry plants across Arkansas.

An intensely prayerful man, Bishop Sartain challenged all priests and religious in the diocese to deepen their commitment by taking time daily to give themselves to God. A gifted communicator, Bishop Sartain spoke and wrote with passion and eloquence. His weekly columns in the Arkansas Catholic often reflected on his relationship with Jesus Christ and the challenges of living a Christian life. He published a 385-page collection of selected columns in 2005.

The bishop held national offices within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, including a three-year term as chairman of the Committee on the Home Missions. The need for vocations remained a constant theme, especially given the aging group of diocesan priests who were struggling to serve a Catholic population that rose from 90,600 when Bishop Sartain came to Arkansas to more than 107,000 upon his departure.

Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Sartain, 53, the fourth bishop of Joliet, Ill. on May 16, 2006. Four years later, on Sept. 16, 2010, the Holy Father appointed the bishop to the Archdiocese of Seattle. On Dec. 1, Archbishop Sartain was installed as the fifth archbishop of western Washington's 579,000 registered Catholics. 

After nine years leading the Archdiocese of Seattle, Archbishop Sartain's request for retirement was accepted by Pope Francis when he appointed Archbishop Paul D. Etienne the new archbishop of Seattle on Sept. 3, 2019. Archbishop Sartain requested the early retirement in September 2018 for health reasons. To learn more, read the following:

An interview with Archbishop J. Peter Sartain

The 58-year-old native of Memphis, head of the Diocese of Joliet, Ill., and former bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock was installed as the Archdiocese of Seattle's ninth bishop on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 at St. James Cathedral.

Former Arkansas bishop appointed to Seattle

Pope Benedict XVI accepted Seattle Archbishop Alex J. Brunett's resignation and appointed Bishop J. Peter Sartain of Joliet, Ill., as his successor. He will be installed as Seattle's ninth bishop Dec. 1, 2010

A Legacy of Preaching and Prayer

Arkansas Catholic's special issue of June 24, 2006 is a retrospective of Bishop J. Peter Sartain's six years in the Diocese of Little Rock. The links will take you to some of the special issue's major stories.

Archbishop Etienne succeeds Archbishop Sartain in Seattle

Pope Francis has appointed Seattle Coadjutor Archbishop Paul D. Etienne as the archbishop of Seattle and accepted the resignation of Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain on Sept. 3, 2019.