Jeffrey N. Steenson

Jeffrey Neil Steenson PA (born April 1, 1952) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, which provides for groups of former Anglicans who have become Roman Catholics.^[1] Steenson served as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande from 2005 until 2007, when he resigned and entered full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

Education

Steenson is a scholar of patristics. He received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Christ Church, Oxford, with a 1983 dissertation entitled "Basil of Ancyra and the Course of Nicene Orthodoxy". His earlier degrees are Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School (1978) in New Testament patristics, Master of Arts from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1976) in church history, and Bachelor of Arts from Trinity International University (1974) in history.^[2]

Episcopalian ministry

Steenson was ordained as a priest of The Episcopal Church on June 29, 1980, and became a curate at All Saints' Church in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, and later as the rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont and St. Andrew's Church in Fort Worth, Texas.^[3]

In October 2004, Steenson was elected bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande; he was consecrated on January 16, 2005. On August 1, 2005, he succeeded Terrence Kelshaw as Bishop of Rio Grande.^[4] Steenson was a member of the Board of Trustees of Nashotah House and the Board of Directors of The Living Church Foundation.

In September 2007, Steenson announced^[5] his decision to resign as bishop, effective December 1.^[6]

Roman Catholic ministry

Steenson was received into the full communion of the Roman Catholic Church on December 1, 2007. Having petitioned for ordination in the Catholic Church under the Pastoral Provision, he began studies at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome.

Steenson was ordained a transitional deacon in December 2008 by Cardinal Bernard Law, the archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.^[7] On February 21, 2009, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe by Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.^[7][8] Steenson has taught at the University of Dallas (Rome campus), the University of St. Thomas in Houston, and at St. Mary's Seminary, also in Houston.^[1][8] He currently teaches at the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul, MN.

On January 1, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named Steenson the first ordinary of the newly created Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. He was installed as ordinary on February 12, 2012.^[1] Upon his appointment as ordinary, Steenson was granted the title protonotary apostolic, the highest rank of monsignor, by Pope Benedict XVI.^[9] Being married, Steenson is not eligible to be consecrated a Catholic bishop, but due to his position as ordinary, he is a full voting member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.^[9] At its founding, the ordinariate was said to have inquiries from over 100 Anglican priests and 1,400 people.^[10] Steenson resigned from the office of ordinary on November 24, 2015. His successor, Steven J. Lopes, was appointed on the same day.

Personal life

Steenson is married to Debra Jane Steenson,^[11] with whom he has three adult children.^[12] He is an avid amateur pilot and aircraft builder.^[13]

See also

• List of the Catholic bishops of the United States#Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter

References