John Thomas Steinbock
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Steinbock (July 16, 1937 – December 5, 2010) was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He was the fourth Bishop of Fresno
.
, California
, and was ordained
to the priesthood
by James Cardinal McIntyre on May 1, 1963. He then served as associate pastor
in two parishes
in East Los Angeles
until 1972, whence he was appointed administrator of Santa Isabel Church on December 11, also in East Los Angeles. Steinbock later became associate pastor (April 1973) and parochial vicar
(February 1, 1981) of St. Vibiana's Cathedral
. He was President
of the Los Angeles Priests' Council from 1979 to 1980, as well as a member of the Board of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
from 1979 to 1982.
On May 29, 1984, Steinbock was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Orange
and Titular Bishop
of Midila by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following July 14 from Timothy Cardinal Manning, with Bishops William Johnson
and Manuel Moreno serving as co-consecrators
. Steinbock became vicar general
of Orange on July 18 of that same year, and diocesan
administrator on July 29, 1986.
He was later named the third Bishop of Santa Rosa
on January 27, 1987, and the fourth Bishop of Fresno
on October 15, 1991.
In 2003, Steinbock published a book of 100 vignettes from his 21 years ministering to the poor, immigrants and gang members in East Los Angeles and skid row. In this book "Ministry of Presence," he said that the ministry of a Catholic priest is primarily one of presence. He reportedly wrote: "One may not be able to respond to the many problems in peoples' lives, but one can be with them in their sufferings and joys. And the priest is with the people, so that they understand that the Lord Jesus is with them, loving them, suffering with them."
Steinbock's personal motto as bishop was "All for the love of God."
Bishop Steinbock died on December 5, 2010, in Fresno
at 73 years old. He had been diagnosed with cancer in August and had been hospitalized at St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno due to blood clots for about a month before his death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He was the fourth Bishop of Fresno
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the western region of the United States, in the State of California. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles...
.
Biography
John Steinbock was born in Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by James Cardinal McIntyre on May 1, 1963. He then served as associate pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in two parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
in East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
until 1972, whence he was appointed administrator of Santa Isabel Church on December 11, also in East Los Angeles. Steinbock later became associate pastor (April 1973) and parochial vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
(February 1, 1981) of St. Vibiana's Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Vibiana
The Cathedral of Saint Vibiana, often called St. Vibiana's, is a former cathedral church building and parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles...
. He was President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Los Angeles Priests' Council from 1979 to 1980, as well as a member of the Board of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
from 1979 to 1982.
On May 29, 1984, Steinbock was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Orange
Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church whose territory comprises the whole of Orange County, California, in the United States...
and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Midila by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following July 14 from Timothy Cardinal Manning, with Bishops William Johnson
William Robert Johnson
William Robert Johnson was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Orange from 1976 until his death in 1986.-Early life and education:...
and Manuel Moreno serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. Steinbock became vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of Orange on July 18 of that same year, and diocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
administrator on July 29, 1986.
He was later named the third Bishop of Santa Rosa
Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in California is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States, named in honor of St. Rose of Lima. It comprises the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa and...
on January 27, 1987, and the fourth Bishop of Fresno
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the western region of the United States, in the State of California. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles...
on October 15, 1991.
In 2003, Steinbock published a book of 100 vignettes from his 21 years ministering to the poor, immigrants and gang members in East Los Angeles and skid row. In this book "Ministry of Presence," he said that the ministry of a Catholic priest is primarily one of presence. He reportedly wrote: "One may not be able to respond to the many problems in peoples' lives, but one can be with them in their sufferings and joys. And the priest is with the people, so that they understand that the Lord Jesus is with them, loving them, suffering with them."
Steinbock's personal motto as bishop was "All for the love of God."
Bishop Steinbock died on December 5, 2010, in Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
at 73 years old. He had been diagnosed with cancer in August and had been hospitalized at St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno due to blood clots for about a month before his death.