Bishop Steinbock of Santa Rosa Will Head Catholic Diocese in Fresno
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Bishop John T. Steinbock of Santa Rosa has been named the new Roman Catholic bishop of the Fresno Diocese by Pope John Paul II.
Cardinal Roger Mahony, head of what is called the Los Angeles Province--which includes the Fresno Diocese and five others--made the announcement this week. The Fresno Diocese serves 350,000 Catholics in the San Joaquin Valley from Merced County south through Kern County.
The 54-year-old Steinbock, a native of Los Angeles, was appointed to the Santa Rosa Diocese in 1987. In his new post, Steinbock takes over from Bishop Norman McFarland of the Orange Diocese, who has also been administering the Fresno Diocese since May. Steinbock served as auxiliary bishop for the Orange Diocese from 1984 to 1987.
His predecessor in Fresno, Bishop Joseph J. Madera, was reassigned to serve Catholics in the nation’s military after officials found financial and morale problems in the Fresno Diocese.
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