October 11, 2008
Father Edward J. Steinberger
Father Steinberger was born in Neodesha, KS on March 10, 1920. He studied for the priesthood at Conception Seminary, Conception, MO and was ordained by Bishop Winkelmann at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel on August, 19, 1945. He was an assistant at Sacred Heart Parish, Dodge City; St. Joseph Parish, Ellinwood; and Blessed Sacrament Parish, Wichita. As pastor he was assigned to Oswego and Chetopa; Scammon and Weir; Burns; St. Vincent de Paul, Wichita; St. Anthony, Wellington; St. Margaret Mary, Wichita; Pittsburg along with Franklin and Capaldo; St. Patrick, Parsons; Chanute; Schulte; and Moline, Sedan, and Caney. In 1959 Father Steinberger was chaplain to St. Elizabeth Hospital and to the State Reformatory in Hutchinson. “Among his many assignments he served as director of Vocations, secretary to Auxiliary Bishop Leo C. Byrne, master of ceremonies, director of Propagation of Faith, chairman of the Diocesan Boundary Commission, Vicar Forane of the Pittsburg Deanery and as diocesan consultor.” (the Catholic Advance, Oct. 17, 2008) Father Dan Vacca, pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Independence, said of him, “Father Steinberger had a lifelong zeal for priestly vocations. Two months before his death he was encouraging vocations among the students at the school Mass on the anniversary of his ordination.” Fr. Steinberger retired in 2002 and lived in Independence, KS until his death on October 11, 2008. Bishop Jackels was principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass of Christian Burial for Father Steinberger at St. Andrew Church, Independence, on October 15, 2008. Father Steinberger was buried in the parish cemetery