Richard Stika

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Richard Frank Stika
Bishop of Knoxville
Bishop Stika, Knoxville, Tennessee.jpg
Stika in 2016
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdioceseLouisville
DioceseKnoxville
AppointedJanuary 12, 2009
InstalledMarch 19, 2009
PredecessorJoseph Edward Kurtz
Orders
OrdinationDecember 14, 1985
by John L. May
ConsecrationMarch 19, 2009
by Justin Francis Rigali, Joseph Edward Kurtz, and Robert Joseph Shaheen
Personal details
Born (1957-07-04) July 4, 1957 (age 64)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Alma materSt. Louis University
MottoIesu Confido in Te
(Jesus, I Trust in You)
Styles of
Richard Frank Stika
Coat of arms of Richard Frank Stika.svg
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Richard Frank Stika (born July 4, 1957) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has been Bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee, since 2009.

Early life and education[]

Richard Stika was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Frank and Helen (née Musielak) Stika; his father was of Czech heritage and his mother Polish.[1] The third of four children, he has three brothers, Lawrence, Robert, and Joseph. He was baptized at St. Francis de Sales Church on July 21, 1957, and attended Epiphany of Our Lord School in South St. Louis.[1]

Stika attended St. Augustine Minor Seminary High School,[a] a boarding school for boys in Holland, Michigan, for one year before entering Bishop DuBourg High School in St. Louis, graduating in 1975.[1] He then studied at St. Louis University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business in 1979, and at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, earning a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1981 and a Master of Divinity in 1985.[1] Cardinal John Carberry ordained him a deacon on May 1, 1985.

Ordination and ministry[]

Stika was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John L. May on December 14, 1985, and then served as an associate pastor of Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Webster Groves until 1991.[3] He was spiritual director of the Catholic Youth Organization and associate director of the Office of Vocations from 1991 to 1994, and an associate pastor at St. Paul Parish in Fenton (1991–1992) and at the Cathedral of St. Louis (1992–1994).[3]

From 1994 to 2004, Stika was chancellor of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. During this period, he also served as private secretary and master of ceremonies to Archbishop Justin Francis Rigali (1994–1997), vicar general and vicar for religious (1997–2004), and member of the College of Consultors (1997–2009). He raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate on June 28, 1995, and coordinated Pope John Paul II's visit to St. Louis in 1999.[1]

Named Vicar for Priests in 2002, he served as both pastor of the Church of the Annunziata in Ladue and episcopal vicar for Child and Youth Protection from 2004 to 2009.[3]

Bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee[]

On January 12, 2009, Stika was appointed Bishop of Knoxville by Pope Benedict XVI.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 19 from Cardinal Justin Rigali, with Archbishop Joseph Edward Kurtz and Bishop Robert Joseph Shaheen serving as co-consecrators, at the Knoxville Convention Center.[5] He selected as his episcopal motto: Iesu Confido In Te ("Jesus, I Trust in You").[6] In September 2014, Stika initiated fundraising to construct a new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,[7] He dedicated it on March 3, 2018.[8] Attendees included Cardinals Rigali, William Levada, Stanisław Dziwisz of Kraków, Poland, Daniel DiNardo, Timothy M. Dolan, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.[7]

Possessing bi-ritual faculties, Stika can also celebrate the liturgy according to the Maronite rite, an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the pope.[1] He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He is a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, and has a cockapoo named Rosie, and two other dogs named Mollie and Stella.[1] He is a close friend of Cardinal Rigali and considered the latter's protégé.[9][10]

Health[]

Stika suffers from type 1 diabetes and uses an insulin pump.[11] He underwent cardiac bypass surgery in 2004 and suffered a major heart attack in 2009,[12] during a visit to South Florida.[13] He had an angioplasty in 2018.[14]

Notes[]

  1. ^ The school operated from 1949 to 1977.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Most Reverend Richard F. Stika, D.D." Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville.
  2. ^ Hayden, Jim (August 13, 2012). "St. Augustine Seminary graduates bring spirit of history to reunion". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Pope Names Missouri Pastor, Msgr. Richard F. Stika, Bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Press release). January 12, 2009.
  4. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 12.01.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  5. ^ Williams, Rebecca D. (March 19, 2009). "New Knoxville bishop: 'I pledge to be a good shepherd'". Knox News. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  6. ^ "Coat of Arms". Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville.
  7. ^ a b McWilliams, Dan (March 5, 2018). "Catholics celebrate nation's newest cathedral, growth of church in South". The Boston Pilot. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  8. ^ McRary, Amy (May 3, 2018). "Reverence, awe — and humor — open East Tennessee Catholics' $30.8 million cathedral". Knox News. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  9. ^ Palmo, Rocco (October 22, 2005). "Isn't it Rich?". Whispers in the Loggia.
  10. ^ Palmo, Rocco (January 12, 2009). "Rich It Is -- Western "Rome" Meets East Tennessee". Whispers in the Loggia.
  11. ^ Palmo, Rocco (August 17, 2009). "Knoxville On the Mend". Whispers in the Loggia.
  12. ^ "Bishop Stika expected to fully recover from mild heart attack". Catholic News Agency. August 19, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  13. ^ Nelson, Kristi L. (August 25, 2009). "Catholic bishop credits God, doctors for saving his life". Knox News. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  14. ^ "After heart procedure, Knoxville Bishop Stika back to regular schedule". Crux. Catholic News Service. December 8, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2019.

External links[]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Joseph Kurtz
Bishop of Knoxville
2009–Present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Retrieved from ""