Happy Anniversaries! The Courier - June 2024

Rev. Peter Klein - 50 Years of Priesthood

Father Klein was born in Mankato, to Frank and Helen Klein. He studied philosophy at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona and then completed his theology degree at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN. On May 24, 1974, Father Klein was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona by the Most Rev. Loras J. Watters. Father Klein’s assignments as Parochial Vicar were at St. Francis of Assisi in Rochester, St. Stanislaus Kostka in Winona, St. Mary in Worthington, and St. Pius X in Rochester. As Pastor, he served at St. Adrian in Adrian, St. Mary in Ellsworth, St. Mary in Madelia, Holy Family in Lake Crystal, St. Katherine in Truman, Sacred Heart in Owatonna, Holy Trinity in Litomysl, St. Ann in Janesville, St. Joseph in Waldorf, Ss. Peter and Paul in Blue Earth, and St. Mary in Winnebago. Other assignments include Instructor for Lourdes High School in Rochester and Cotter High School in Winona; Chaplain for the Catholic Daughters of America in Owatonna; Parochial Administrator for St. John Vianney in Fairmont, Holy Family in East Chain, St. Casimir in Wells, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Easton, and St. John the Baptist in Minnesota Lake; author of The Catholic Source Book, 5th edition, and Scripture Source Book for Catholics; member of the Presbyteral Council and Clergy Personnel Committee; and Dean of the Mankato Deanery. Father Klein joined the rank of senior priests of the diocese on July 1, 2019.

Rev. William Kulas - 50 Years of Priesthood

Father Kulas was born in Arcadia, WI, to James and Loretta Kulas. He studied philosophy at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona

and then completed his theology degree at St. John Seminary in Collegeville, MN. On May 24, 1974, Father Kulas was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona by the Most Rev. Loras J. Watters. Father Kulas later earned a Specialist Degree in Education Administration from Mankato State University, and a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of America. Father Kulas’ assignments as Parochial Vicar were at St. Augustine in Austin, St. John in Rochester, and St. Felix in Wabasha. As Pastor, he served at St. Paul in Minnesota City, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Easton, St. John the Baptist in Minnesota Lake, St. Joseph in Rushford, St. Mary in Houston, St. Felix in Wabasha, St. Agnes in Kellogg, Immaculate Conception in Kellogg, St. Columbanus in Blooming Prairie, Sacred Heart in Hayfield, Holy Trinity in Rollingstone, and St. Mary in Minneiska. Father Kulas also served in the Diocese of Palm Beach, FL, for a year, where he was Parochial Vicar and Adjutant Judicial Vicar. Additional assignments in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester include Instructor for Pacelli High School in Austin, Fitzgerald Middle School in Mankato, and Lourdes High School in Rochester; several positions in diocesan and interdiocesan Tribunals including Advocate, Judge, Defender of the Bond, Adjutant Judicial Vicar, and Judicial Vicar; member of the Priests Pension Board of Trustees; and Chaplain for the Winona Serra Club. On July 1, 2016, Father Kulas joined the rank of senior priests of the diocese.

Rev. Msgr. Robert Meyer - 50 Years of Priesthood

Monsignor Meyer was born in Wabasha, to Harry and Agnes (Evers) Meyer. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at Winona State University before studying at the Pope John XIII National Seminary in Weston, MA. On May 24, 1974, Monsignor Meyer was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, by the Most Rev. Loras J. Watters. Monsignor Meyer’s assignments as Parochial Vicar were at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona and St. Pius X in Rochester. As Pastor, he served at St. John Nepomucene in Winona, All Saints in Madison Lake, St. Joseph the Worker in Mankato, St. Francis of Assisi in Rochester, St. Stanislaus Kostka in Winona, Ss. Peter and Paul in Mazeppa, and St. Patrick in West Albany. Other assignments include Parochial Administrator for Ss. Peter and Paul in Blue Earth, Holy Family in East Chain, and St. John Nepomucene in Winona; Advocate, Associate Judge, and Defender of the Bond for the diocesan Tribunal; diocesan Director of Religious Education; Director of Catholic Social Services; diocesan Family Life Director; member of the Presbyteral Council, College of Consultors, diocesan Finance Council, and Priests Committee for Capital Campaign; and Dean for the Rochester Deanery. In 2008, Monsignor Meyer joined the rank of senior priests, and in 2012 he was named Prelate of Honor.

Rev. Joseph Schneider - 50 Years of Priesthood

Father Schneider came to the Diocese of WinonaRochester in 2018 and is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, IA. Father Schneider is the son of John and Elsie (Dvorak) Schneider and grew up in Cedar Falls, IA. He studied at Loras College in Dubuque, IA, earning a BA in History with a Minor in Education, and subsequently attended St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul. Father Schneider was ordained May 25, 1974, at St. Patrick Parish in Cedar Falls, IA, by the Most Rev. James J. Byrne. Father Schneider later worked toward a MA in Religious Education in Boston College, MA. After ordination, he served at parishes and schools in Cedar Rapids, Cascade, Cresco, Manchester; and was pastor in Greeley, Cedar Rapids, Stacyville, St. Ansgar, Meyer, Waukon, Hanover, Dorchester, and the Blessed Trinity Cluster of Manchester, Ryan, and Masonville. Father Schneider retired in 2018 and now lives in Brownsville.

Rev. Chinnappa Pothireddy - 45 Years of Priesthood

Father Pothireddy was born in Silveru Andhra Pradesh, India, to Joji Reddy and Annamma Pothireddy. He earned degrees in philosophy and theology, and on March 28, 1979, Father Pothireddy was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Nalgonda, by the Most Rev. Mathew Cheriankunnel. Father Pothireddy later studied theology at St. John Lateran University in Rome, earning a Doctorate in Theology. As a priest of the Diocese of Nalgonda, Father Pothireddy served as Parochial Vicar and Pastor for Holy Name of Jesus in Munugode; Rector of Bassiano Orphanage in Munugode; several diocesan roles including secretary to the Bishop, Commission for Family, Apostolic visitation team, Procurator, and Chancellor; and he also served as Director of Pastoral Animation for the Regional Bishops and Administrator for Caritas India in New Delhi. Since his arrival in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in 2013, Father Pothireddy has been Parochial Administrator of St. Ann in Janesville and St. Joseph in Waldorf; Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, St. Casimir in Winona, the Newman Center in Winona, Pax Christi in Rochester, Ss. Peter and Paul in Mazeppa, and St. Pius X in Rochester; and Pastor of St. Mary in Minneiska and St. Paul in Minnesota City. Father Pothireddy is current Pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Lewiston, Holy Trinity in Rollingstone, and St. Joseph in Rushford.

Rev. Timothy Biren - 25 Years of Priesthood

Father Biren was born in Slayton, MN, to LeRoy and JoAnn (Spartz) Biren. He received a BA in Music Education from St. John’s University in Collegeville, studied philosophy at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona and then completed his theology degree at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake - Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, IL. On June 15, 1999, Father Biren was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona by the Most Rev. Bernard J. Harrington. Father Biren’s assignments as Parochial Vicar were at St. Edward in Austin, St. Aidan in Ellendale, Our Lady of Loretto in Brownsdale, and Holy Trinity in Litomysl. As Pastor, he served at St. Teresa in Mapleton, St. Joseph in Good Thunder, St. Matthew in Vernon Center, St. Joseph the Worker in Mankato, Holy Family in Lake Crystal, St. Charles Borromeo in St. Charles, St. Aloysius in Elba, and Holy Redeemer in Eyota. Other assignments included Chaplain of Pacelli Catholic School, Austin and Loyola Catholic School, Mankato; Chaplain and Director of the St. Thomas More Newman Center, Minnesota State University, Mankato; director for the House of Formation at Minnesota State University Mankato; adjunct Spiritual Director at IHM Seminary, Winona; Chaplain of Pathways TEC and Minnesota Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Member of the Knights of Columbus and Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith. Father Biren is currently Pastor of St. Mary in Worthington and a member of the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors.

Rev. James E. Starasinich - 25 Years of Priesthood

Father Starasinich was born in Joliet, Will County, IL, to William John and Elizabeth C. (Sandiford) Starasinich, their third child. He has four brothers and one sister. He attended Catholic grade schools (St. Ambrose, Crest Hill; St. Joseph, Joliet) and Joliet Township High School, Central Campus. He spent one year with the Salesians of Don Bosco, studying at Don Bosco College (Seminary) in Newton, NJ; received a BA in History at College of St. Francis (now University of St. Francis) in Joliet; and then completed his theology degree at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ while receiving formation to serve as a diocesan-missionary priest at Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Kearny, NJ. On May 29, 1999, Father Starasinich was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, NJ. Father Starasinich also studied at Joliet Junior College, University of Maryland during four years in the Air Force prior to seminary, and Caldwell College. As a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, Father Starasinich served at parishes in Valga and Tartu, Estonia; St. Mary Star of the Sea in Bayonne, NJ; Holy Trinity in Westfield, NJ; Peeter Pauli Kogudus (St. Peter and Paul) in Tallinn, Estonia; and as pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Lyndhurst, NJ. He also served as rector at Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Guam. In July 2018, Father Starasinich arrived in the Diocese of WinonaRochester to serve as the pastor of St. Joseph in Owatonna and Christ the King in Medford. Father Starasinich also served as Chaplain of Owatonna Knights of Columbus Council #945, Medford Deerfield Knights of Columbus Council #4909, and the Serra Club in Owatonna; Canonical Administrator of Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Owatonna; Parochial Administrator of Sacred Heart in Owatonna. Fr. Starasinich is currently pastor of St. Pius X in Rochester and a member of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors.