Fr. Steve hails from Lakewood, Colorado (a suburb of Denver). He’s the 6th of 7 children of Earl and Dorothy Rosera (both now deceased); and keeps in regular contact with his 5 living siblings (most of whom still live in the metropolitan Denver area).
He attended St. Bernadette’s Grade School, in Lakewood, Colorado, from grades 1 thru 8; and then went to the Cathedral High School, located near the Immaculate Conception Basilica in downtown Denver. After high school, he studied at the College of Santa Fe, and was a seminarian at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, in Santa Fe. After completing his B.A. (with majors in English and Religion Studies, and a minor in Philosophy), he went on to Theological Studies, at the Pontifical College Josephinum, in Columbus, Ohio, where he earned a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree.
Fr. Steve was ordained in Santa Fe, on June 21, 1980, by then Archbishop Robert Sanchez. He served at Queen of Heaven and Annunciation Parishes, here in Albuquerque as well as at St. Mary’s, in Vaughn, and San Francisco de Asis, in Ranchos de Taos, as well as in several diocesan roles, including Director of Vocations. In 1987, he was asked by Archbishop Sanchez to study Canon Law. He earned the J.C.L. (Master in Canon Law) degree, at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC., and upon return served briefly as Vicar for Administrative Affairs, and Adjutant Judicial Vicar.
Feeling the need for some time to discern his vocation further and wanting to make certain of God’s call for him, he decided to take some time away from the active ministry, working with The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), in Washington, D.C., and then transitioning to the business world, becoming involved in the early days of the “dot com boom” in Internet banking, with Wells Fargo Bank. There Steve worked for a number of years as a systems engineer, earning a MCSE certification (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer).
Fr. Steve renewed his commitment to serve as a priest and was accepted by Archbishop Wester to the active ministry.
Fr. Steve sees his time away from the ordained ministry to have been years of tremendous personal growth, and growth in his understanding and appreciation of the need for all of us to share our gifts and talents for the building up of God’s Kingdom, however and whenever we are called. Fr. Steve, and his 2 parakeets (Lola and Marcy) joined the ICC parish staff on January 20! Currently, he divides his time between I. C. Parish, as Parochial Vicar, and the Archdiocesan Tribunal, where he works as a judge and Defender of the Bond. Fr. Steve was recently appointed the Parish Administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish. This appointment takes effect June 30, 2021.