Steven J. Raica

Steven John Raica (born November 8, 1952) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama since 2020. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord in Michigan from 2014 to 2020

Early life and education
Steven Raica was born on November 8, 1952, in Munising, Michigan to Steve and Mary Raica. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, a Master of Divinity degree from St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan, and a Master of Religious Studies degree from the University of Detroit.

Ordination and ministry
Raica was ordained a priest at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing for the Diocese of Lansing by Bishop Kenneth Povish on October 14, 1978. After his 1978 ordination, the diocese assigned Raica as parochial vicar at Holy Redeemer Parish in Burton, Michigan and St. Pius X Parish in Flint, Michigan.

In 1984, the diocese moved Raica to Holy Family Parish in Ovid, Michigan to serve as pastor. The next year, he left Holy Family to become co-rector of St. Mary Cathedral. In 1988, Raica traveled to Rome to attend the Pontifical Gregorian University, receiving a Licentiate in Canon Law and a Doctor of Canon law degree.

After his return to Michigan in 1991, the diocese named Raica as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Charlotte, Michigan, serving there until 1993. He became pastor of St. Ann Parish in Bellevue, Michigan in 1995. In 1997, Raica was appointed as chancellor of the diocese. Pope John Paul II named him an honorary prelate of his holiness, with the title of monsignor, in 1998.

Raica returned to Rome in 1999 to serve as the superior of Casa Santa Maria, the graduate studies house of the Pontifical North American College. At the same time, he was also spiritual director and adjunct faculty at the college. When Raica came back to Lansing in 2005, he resumed his role as chancellor.

Raica served the diocese tribunal as a pro-synodal judge, the promoter of justice and a tribunal judge. He was also involved in ministry to the deaf and is fluent in American Sign Language.

Bishop of Gaylord
On June 27, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Raica as the fifth bishop of Gaylord. He was consecrated by Archbishop Allen Vigneron on August 28, 2014, in St. Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Gaylord, Michigan. Bishop Emeritus Carl Mengeling and Coadjutor Archbishop Bernard Hebda were the principal co-consecrators.

In February 2017, Reverend Sylvestre Obwaka, a Nigerian priest from St. Ignatius Parish in Rogers City, Michigan, was arrested on sexual assault charges. Another priest had accused Obwaka of assaulting him when he was sleeping at Obwaka's residence after a night of drinking. Raica later spoke with Obwaka, who admitted sexual contact with the man. Obwaka was acquitted in July 2017.

Bishop of Birmingham
Francis named Raica as bishop of Birmingham on March 25, 2020. He was installed on June 23, 2020. Raica can converse in Italian and Polish, and has a reading knowledge of Latin, French, Spanish and German.