Škof Janez N. Stariha in njegovo pastoralno delo v ZDA

Jurejevčič, Branko (author), Kolar, Bogdan (mentor)

Škof Janez N. Stariha se je rodil 12. maja 1845 v Sodinji vasi v župniji Semič. Po končani ljudski šoli v Semiču je svoje šolanje nadaljeval na novomeški gimnaziji. Leta 1866 se je udeležil bitke pri Custozzi, kjer je prejel srebrno medaljo za hrabrost. Zaradi vse večje želje po duhovniškem poklicu je leta 1867 dezertiral iz vojske in se z jadrnico po 57 dneh izkrcal v New Yorku. Ker ni imel denarja za nadaljevanje svoje poti, si je našel začasno delo na kmetiji v Wisconsinu. Po mesecu dni dela je odšel k svojemu rojaku in nekdanjemu sošolcu Janezu Vertinu, ki je kasneje postal tretji marquettski škof. Stariha je vstopil v semenišče svetega Frančiška Saleškega v Milwaukeeju in bil po rokah škofa Mraka leta 1869 posvečen v duhovnika. Prvi dve leti je deloval v župniji, kjer je bilo večinsko francosko in irsko prebivalstvo, nato pa je zaprosil za sprejem v škofijo St. Paul v Minnesoti. V škofiji St. Paul je bil najprej župnik v Marystownu in nato še v Red Wingu, poleg splošne skrbi za župnijo in razvijanje katoliškega življenja je Stariha skrbel tudi za številne misijone. Njegovo delo župnika pa ni zahtevalo le dušnega pastirstva, ampak je bil primoran s svojo iznajdljivostjo zgraditi ne le ene cerkve. Leta 1883 je bil prestavljen za župnika v novoustanovljeno župnijo svetega Frančiška Saleškega v mestu St. Paul. Leta 1897 postane generalni vikar škofije St. Paul. V letu 1902 je bil Stariha imenovan za prvega škofa novoustanovljene škofije Lead v Južni Dakoti. Zaradi bolezni se je upokojil leta 1909 in bil hkrati imenovan za naslovnega antipatridskega škofa. Umrl je 27. novembra 1915 v Ljubljani in je pokopan na pokopališču sv. Križa v Ljubljani (današnje Žale).

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: Škofija Lead, misijonarji, Združene države Amerike, Friderik Irenej Baraga (1797-1868), Janez Vertin (1844-1899), Ignacij Mrak (1818-1901), Semenišče svetega Frančiška Saleškega, St. Paul.
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: [B. Jurejevčič]
• Year: 2017
• Number of pages: VIII, 75, XXXIX str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-97771
• UDC: 27-46(73)(043.2):929Stariha J. N.
• COBISS.SI-ID: 7728474
• Publication date in RUL: 09.11.2017

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Bishop John N. Stariha and his pastoral work in the USA

Abstract

Bishop Janez N. Stariha was born on May 12th, 1845, in Sodinja vas, Parish of Semič. After finishing elementary school in Semič, he continued his studies at the Novo mesto High School. In the year 1866, he fought at the battle of Custozza: he was honoured with the Silver Medal for bravery. The call for priesthood was increasingly present in him; in 1867, he deserted from the army, boarded a sailing boat and after 57 days landed in New York. Since he was pennyless, he found himself a temporary job at a farm house in Wiscosin. After working for a month, he decided to visit Janez Vertin, his fellow countryman and a former school fellow, who later became the third bishop at Marquette. Stariha entered the St. Francis de Sales Seminary, St. Paul in Milwaukee and was ordained priest by bishop Mrak in 1869. For the first two years, he was active in a parish with mostly French and Irish population; later, he applied for a post at St. Paul diocese in Minnesota. At first, Stariha became a parish priest in Marystown and afterwards at Red Wings. Besides general care for the parish and development of the Catholic life, he dedicated much attention to his missionary work. His parish duties comprised not only the pastoral care, but due to his ingenuity he also built some churches. In the year 1883, he was transferred as a parish priest to the newly established parish of Saint Francis de Sales in the town of St. Paul. Later, in 1897, Stariha became the vicar general of the St. Paul Diocese. In 1902, he was ordained as the first bishop of the newly established diocese Lead, South Dakota. Due to illness, he retired in 1909 and got the title of the Antipatrida Bishop. Stariha died on November 27th 1915 the year in Ljubljana and is burried at the St. Cross Cemetery (today's Žale Cemetery) in Ljubljana.

• Keywords: Diocese of Lead, missionaries, vicar general, United States of America, Frederick Baraga (1797-1868), Ignatius Mrak (1818-1901), John Vertin (1844-1899), St. Francis de Sales Seminary, St. Paul.