Bishop Stephen E. Blaire

The Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire was born in Los Angeles, California in 1941, the twelfth of fourteen children.  He was raised in the San Fernando Valley, where he attended local Catholic schools.  After graduating from Queen of Angels High School Seminary in 1959, Bishop Blaire entered St. John’s College and Seminary in Camarillo.

On 29 April 1967, Bishop Blaire was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by James Francis Cardinal McIntyre.  Bishop Blaire’s first assignment was as Associate Pastor at St. Luke’s Church in Temple City.  In 1972, Bishop Blaire began fourteen years of ministry with Catholic secondary education, first as a teacher and administrator at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, then as Vice Principal at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente. From 1977 to 1986, Bishop Blaire returned to Bishop Alemany High School as Principal.

In 1986, Bishop Blaire was appointed as the Moderator of the Curia and Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  On 31 May 1990 he was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and Titular Bishop of Lamzella by Cardinal Roger Mahony.  Bishop Blaire served as a Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles from 1990 and Regional Bishop of Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region from 1995 to 1999.

On 19 January 1999 it was announced that Pope John Paul II had appointed Bishop Blaire as the Bishop of Stockton.  The Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire was installed as the fifth Bishop of Stockton on 16 March 1999 at the Cathedral of the Annunciation.

As a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Blaire has served as the Chairman of the Pastoral Practices Committee.  Currently he is the President of the Committee for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs.  Bishop Blaire also serves as treasurer of the California Catholic Conference.

Curriculum Vitae - PDF - 12 KB

Last Update February 14, 2008