Kenneth Steiner
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Donald Steiner is an American
prelate
of the Catholic Church. He is currently Auxiliary Bishop
Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, having served from 1978 to November 2011.
, Nebraska
, one of five children of Lawrence and Florine Steiner. His father died when Kenneth was very young, and the family then moved to Oregon
, where he attended St. Rose Grade School in Portland
. He graduated from Mount Angel Seminary High School and College
in 1958, and studied for the priesthood
at St. Thomas the Apostle Seminary in Kenmore
.
Steiner was ordained
a priest by Archbishop Edward Howard
on May 19, 1962. His first assignment was as an associate pastor at St. Monica Church in Coos Bay
, where he remained until 1967. He then served at St. Mary's Cathedral (1967–1970) and St. Stephen Church (1970–1972), both in Portland. In Portland, he also began a marriage preparation program and a ministry to divorced and separated Catholics.
In 1972, Steiner was named pastor
of Holy Name Church in Coquille
with its missions in Myrtle Point
and Powers
. He then served as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Roy
(1976–1978) and chairman of Priests' Personnel Committee (1976–1977).
On November 28, 1977, Steiner was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Portland and Titular Bishop
of Avensa by Pope Paul VI
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on March 2, 1978 from Archbishop Cornelius Power, with Bishops Elden Curtiss
and Alfredo Méndez-Gonzalez, at the Portland Civic Auditorium
. In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of St. Mary Church in Corvallis
(until 2000), Vicar for Clergy and Clergy Personnel Director (1978–1980), Vicar for Worship and Ministry (1979–1981), and chairman of the Priests' Retirement Facility Committee (1986–1993).
Steiner served as archdiocesan administrator before the appointments of Archbishops Francis George (1996) and John George Vlazny (1997). He served as pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Milwaukie
(2000–2002) before being named to St. Edward Church in North Plains
. He also serves as Vicar for Senior and Infirm priests and a member of the Resource Development Office.
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 Catholic Church. He is currently 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...
Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, having served from 1978 to November 2011.
Biography
Kenneth Steiner was born in David CityDavid City, Nebraska
David City is a city in Butler County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,597 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Butler County.-Geography:David City is located at ....
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, one of five children of Lawrence and Florine Steiner. His father died when Kenneth was very young, and the family then moved to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, where he attended St. Rose Grade School in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. He graduated from Mount Angel Seminary High School and College
Mount Angel Abbey
Mount Angel Abbey is a community of Benedictine monks near the city of Mt. Angel, Oregon, United States. It was established in 1882 from the Abbey of Engelberg, Switzerland. The abbey, located on the top of Mount Angel, a 485-foot high butte, has its own post office separate from the city of Mt....
in 1958, and studied for 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....
at St. Thomas the Apostle Seminary in Kenmore
Kenmore, Washington
Kenmore is a city in King County, Washington, United States, along the northernmost shores of Lake Washington...
.
Steiner 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....
a priest by Archbishop Edward Howard
Edward Howard (bishop)
Edward Daniel Howard was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Portland from 1926 to 1966.-Early life and education:...
on May 19, 1962. His first assignment was as an associate pastor at St. Monica Church in Coos Bay
Coos Bay, Oregon
Coos Bay is a city located in Coos County, Oregon, United States, where the Coos River enters Coos Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The city borders the city of North Bend, and together they are often referred to as one entity called either Coos Bay-North Bend or the Bay Area...
, where he remained until 1967. He then served at St. Mary's Cathedral (1967–1970) and St. Stephen Church (1970–1972), both in Portland. In Portland, he also began a marriage preparation program and a ministry to divorced and separated Catholics.
In 1972, Steiner was named pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Holy Name Church in Coquille
Coquille, Oregon
Coquille is a city that is the county seat of Coos County, Oregon, United States. The population was 4,184 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 4,215 residents. The primary economic base is the timber industry...
with its missions in Myrtle Point
Myrtle Point, Oregon
-2000 Census data:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,451 people, 988 households, and 674 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,529.5 people per square mile . There were 1,110 housing units at an average density of 692.7 per square mile...
and Powers
Powers, Oregon
Powers is a city in Coos County, Oregon, United States. The population was 689 at the 2010 census.It is 21 miles south of Oregon Route 42 at Myrtle Point on Powers Highway Powers is a city in Coos County, Oregon, United States. The population was 689 at the 2010 census.It is 21 miles south of...
. He then served as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Roy
Roy, Oregon
Roy, Oregon is an unincorporated historic locale in Washington County, Oregon, United States. It is located south of the Sunset Highway and southeast of the city of Banks....
(1976–1978) and chairman of Priests' Personnel Committee (1976–1977).
On November 28, 1977, Steiner 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 Portland 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 Avensa by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. He received his episcopal
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....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on March 2, 1978 from Archbishop Cornelius Power, with Bishops Elden Curtiss
Elden Francis Curtiss
Elden Francis Curtiss is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Helena from 1976 to 1993, and Archbishop of Omaha from 1993 to 2009.-Early life and ministry:...
and Alfredo Méndez-Gonzalez, at the Portland Civic Auditorium
Keller Auditorium
Keller Auditorium, formerly known as the Portland Municipal Auditorium, the Portland Public Auditorium, and the Portland Civic Auditorium, is a performing arts center located on Clay Street in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is part of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts...
. In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of St. Mary Church in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
(until 2000), Vicar for Clergy and Clergy Personnel Director (1978–1980), Vicar for Worship and Ministry (1979–1981), and chairman of the Priests' Retirement Facility Committee (1986–1993).
Steiner served as archdiocesan administrator before the appointments of Archbishops Francis George (1996) and John George Vlazny (1997). He served as pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Milwaukie
Milwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in...
(2000–2002) before being named to St. Edward Church in North Plains
North Plains, Oregon
North Plains is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, off U.S. 26 on the northwest outskirts of the Portland metropolitan area. The population was 1,605 at the 2000 census; by July 2007 the population was estimated to be 1,813.-Geography:...
. He also serves as Vicar for Senior and Infirm priests and a member of the Resource Development Office.