Rev. E. J. (Eugene John) Stein, O.F.M.
Fr. E.J. (Eugene John) Stein was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 26, 1956. When he was about one-and-a-half years old, his father, Eugene Francis, was transferred by Magnavox to Fort Wayne, Indiana. His Dad was an electrical engineer and worked in the government division of Magnavox making radar systems for the Navy. His Mom, Joan, was an elementary school teacher until E.J. came along, but following the custom of the time, quickly became a homemaker. E.J. is the eldest of three sons. His brother, Tom, who was a pharmacist and lawyer and the father of three children, is deceased. His brother, Michael, is a civil engineer and lives in Portland, Maine, with his wife and two children.
John, as he was called, went to a Catholic grade school and then graduated in 1975 from our Franciscan high school, Bishop Luers, in Fort Wayne. He played soccer in grade school and football and basketball his first year in high school. During high school he worked in the produce department of a grocery store, so he is an expert on produce. Perhaps that is when he began his distaste for brussels sprouts, the only food he refuses to eat.
Fr. E.J. entered our Franciscan seminary, Duns Scotus College, in Detroit in 1975 after graduation from high school. He was a lay student for three years and then entered our novitiate. After a two-year novitiate he made his first vows in 1980. He made his final vows in 1983. He graduated from Duns Scotus College and then studied theology for four years in Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio. Fr. E.J. was ordained a priest on June 8, 1985 in Cincinnati. Interestingly, between his first and second years of studying theology, he was sent to Galveston for a “cross cultural experience” (as it was then called) in the Summer of 1981. He agreed a year ago to an assignment here despite that previous experience. Just kidding!
His ministry began as a Religion teacher at the high school in Fort Wayne where he had graduated. After a few years of teaching he was transferred to St. George Parish/Newman Center that served the students at the University of Cincinnati. Fr. E.J. was then asked to work in our Province’s Vocation Office, a ministry he did for six years. He then moved into parish ministry, being an associate pastor and then pastor of St. Francis Seraph Parish in the poorest area of Cincinnati where are Motherhouse is located. He next served as pastor at St. Clement Church in a suburb of Cincinnati. He was then asked to move into formation ministry to work with our Franciscan seminarians, a ministry he did for seven years. He started in our post-novitiate program and then became Director of Novices. He left formation ministry one year ago to come and share his life with us.
It was an unforgettable arrival. The trip from Chicago to Galveston was without incident for the first 1,000 miles. He drove a rental truck and was pulling a towing trailer with his car on it. He turned right onto 35th street and soon began to turn left into our friary garage area. Disaster then struck. The street is so high and the gutter so low that his hitch got caught solidly in the blacktop. After several hours and many unsuccessful attempts to free the hitch by following every suggestion of every passer-by, it finally took a tow truck to free him so he could travel the final few feet of his trip successfully.
Fr. E.J.’s hobbies are hiking, especially in the mountains (is that why he volunteered to come to Galveston?); sports of all kinds; reading historical novels; and bicycling. As you probably know, he will be your pastor beginning next Summer. I am being especially nice to him so he stays here so I can retire. All of you who have come to know him realize that Fr. E.J. will do well as pastor of Holy Family Parish.
Written by Father John Bok