Fr. Stephen Bedenikovic

Fr. Steve was born November 25, 1953 in Kobilić near Karlovac, Croatia. He completed grade school in Kamensko near Karlovac and on June 17, 1966 came to St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from high school at St. Joseph's Seminary, Oak Brook, Illinois. In 1981 he entered the Franciscan novitiate in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He continued his studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago where he graduated with a Masters in Divinity. He was ordained a priest at Sacred Heart Church in Chicago on May 10, 1985. He served as associate pastor at St. Augustine's in West Allis, (1985 to 1989), administrator at Sacred Heart, Milwaukee (1989) and associate pastor at Sacred Heart, Chicago (1989-1994). From 1994 to 2000, he served as pastor of Sacred Heart, Milwaukee, returning to Sacred Heart in Chicago that summer where he currently serves as pastor. Fr. Stephen was also on the Custodial Board from 1988 to 1991.