NBCC Directory

DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

J. (JAMES) TERRY STEIB, S.V.D.
Bishop of Memphis

Bishop J. Terry Steib, S.V.D. was born in Vacherie, Louisiana, the oldest of five children born to Rosemond and Vivian Jones Steib.

Bishop Steib received his Theological Degree from Divine Word Seminary in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi in 1967 and his Master of Arts Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Xavier University, New Orleans in 1973.

He was ordained to the Priesthood on January 6, 1967 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Following his ordination, he was assigned as Assistant Dean of Students at Divine Word Seminary, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi from 1967 until 1969. He also served as a professor at St. Stanislaus High School in Bay St. Louis from 1967 to 1976.

In 1976 Bishop Steib was elected to the first of three terms (1976-1983) as the Provincial Superior of Divine Word Missionaries, Southern Province. He was also elected Vice President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (1979-1983).

On February 10, 1984, he was ordained Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri and Titular Bishop of Fallaba in St. Louis, Missouri by Archbishop John L. May.

Bishop Steib was installed as the fourth Bishop of Memphis on May 5, 1993 by the Most Reverend Agostino Cacciavillan, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio. He currently serves as a member on the USCCB Committee of Clergy & Consecrated Life & Vocations; a Consultant for the USCCB Committee for Cultural Diversity; Commission on Religious Life & Ministry; Sub-Committee of Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). He also serves as a member on the Board of Directors of The Catholic Extension Society.

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