John Stariha
| His Excellency, The Right Reverend John Stariha | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Lead titular bishop of Antipatris | |
| |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lead |
| Appointed | July 21, 1902 |
| Term ended | March 29, 1909 |
| Predecessor | Office established |
| Successor | Joseph Francis Busch |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | September 19, 1869 by Ignatius Mrak |
| Consecration | October 28, 1902 by John Ireland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 12, 1845 Semič, Slovenia |
| Died | November 28, 1915 (aged 70) Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| Education | Saint Francis de Sales Seminary |
John Nepomucene Stariha (May 12, 1845 – November 28, 1915) was a Slovenian-born American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the first bishop of Lead in South Dakota, serving from 1902 to 1909.
Biography
Early life
John Stariha was born on May 12, 1845, in Semič in the Duchy of Carniola (present-daySlovenia), the son of John and Anna (née Judnic) Stariha.[1] He received his early education in Novo Mesto in Carniola, but his studies were interrupted in 1866 when he was drafted into the Imperial Austrian Army. He served in the army for seven months and took part at the Battle of Custoza in Venetzia on June 24, 1866.[2] He was awarded a silver medal for bravery.[3][4] Stariha later deserted the army, fleeing to the United States.[5]
Stariha arrived in New York City in May 1867 and then headed west to Wisconsin.[2] After briefly working as a farmhand to earn money, he was encouraged by his fellow Slovene and former schoolmate, Reverend John Vertin, to become a priest. Stariha then entered Saint Francis de Sales Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin.[2] He completed his theological studies there.[6]
Priesthood
Stariha was ordained a priest by Bishop Ignatius Mrak for the Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie and Marquette on September 19, 1869, in Marquette, Michigan.[7] His first assignment was as an assistant pastor at Saint Paul's Parish in Negaunee, Michigan, where he remained for two years.[4]
Stariha came to the Diocese of Saint Paul in September 1871 and served for nine months in Marystown, Minnesota.[4] In June 1872, he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Red Wing, Minnesota, and the surrounding missions. During his tenure, Stariha built a new church and opened a parochial school to accommodate the growing parish.[8] He received a pardon from Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1879 for deserting the army so that he could visit Slovenia.[9][2]
Stariha remained in Red Wing until January 1884, when he was called to organize St. Francis de Sales Parish in Saint Paul, Minnesota for German-speaking immigrants. He built a church, rectory, parochial school, and convent during his time there.[10] In addition to his pastoral duties, he was named vicar general of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in December 1897.[4]
Bishop of Lead
On July 21, 1902, Stariha was appointed by Pope Leo XIII to be the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of Lead in South Dakota.[11] The diocese covered the portion of South Dakota west of the Missouri River. Upon receiving the news, he told a Saint Paul newspaper: "The news that I had been made a bishop was wholly unexpected and came as a surprise to me...I have never craved for this position and if I can help it I will not go."[4] Nevertheless, he received his episcopal consecration on October 28, 1902, from Archbishop John Ireland, with Bishops Joseph Cotter and James McGolrick serving as co-consecrators.[7]
During his seven years as bishop, Stariha increased the number of priests in the diocese from 17 to 25 and the number of parishes and missions from 25 to 53.[12] Due to poor health, he moved from his official residence in Lead to Hot Springs, South Dakota in 1908.[13]
Retirement and legacy
When his health failed to improve, Stariha submitted his resignation as bishop of Lead on March 29, 1909. It was accepted the following month.[12][14] He was given the titular see of Antipatris by Pope Pius X.[7]
Stariha retired to his native Slovenia in May 1909, residing in Ljubljana.[15] John Stariha died in Ljubljana from apoplexy on November 28, 1915, at age 70.[3][16]
References
- Back to citation Taufbuch. Semič. 1841–1853. p. 47.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Back to citation occurrence 2.3 Trunk, Rev. J.M. "Prominent Slovenes". Foundation for East European Family History Studies. Slovenian Genealogy Society International.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 The Salesianum. Vol. XI. Alumni Association of St. Francis Seminary. 1915.
- Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 Back to citation occurrence 4.2 Back to citation occurrence 4.3 Back to citation occurrence 4.4 "BOUND BY HOME TIMES". The St. Paul Globe. July 23, 1902.
- Back to citation Arnez, John (1984). Slovenian letters by missionaries in America, 1851–1874. Studia Slovenica. ISBN 9780318014548; Friš, Darko (1999). Korespondenca slovenskih katoličanov v ZDA med leti 1882–1924 (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Arhivsko društvo Slovenije. ISBN 9789616143097; Coleman, Sister Bernard (1972). Masinaigans: The Little Book. North Central Publishing Company.
- Back to citation Arnez, John (1984). Slovenian letters by missionaries in America, 1851–1874. Studia Slovenica. ISBN 9780318014548.
- Back to citation occurrence 7.0 Back to citation occurrence 7.1 Back to citation occurrence 7.2 "Bishop John Stariha". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- Back to citation "Our History". Church of St. Joseph.
- Back to citation Friš, Darko (1999). Korespondenca slovenskih katoličanov v ZDA med leti 1882–1924 (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Arhivsko društvo Slovenije. ISBN 9789616143097.
- Back to citation "School Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Francis de Sales". School Sisters of Notre Dame.
- Back to citation "FATHER J.N. STARIHA ELEVATED TO A BISHOP". The St. Paul Globe. July 22, 1902.
- Back to citation occurrence 12.0 Back to citation occurrence 12.1 "MOST REVEREND JOHN J. STARIHA". Roman Catholic Diocese of Rapid City.
- Back to citation "Bishop Stariha to Move Here". Hot Springs Weekly Star. July 17, 1908.
- Back to citation "BISHOP HAS RESIGNED". Rapid City Journal. April 23, 1909.
- Back to citation Meehan, Thomas (1910). Diocese of Lead. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- Back to citation "ST. PAUL VICAR GENERAL DIES". The Minneapolis Journal. December 31, 1915.