Bishop Steven A. Leven

Most Rev. Steven A. Leven (1905-1983) planned to spend his life as a missionary priest in rural Oklahoma, but was sent to Louvain, Belgium, for higher studies instead. There he met Frank Sheed and Maisie Ward, learning from these apologists and leaders of the Catholic Evidence Guild how to evangelize through street preaching — an apostolate he pursued back in Oklahoma. He was consecrated auxiliary bishop of San Angelo, Texas, in 1956 and installed as third bishop of that diocese in 1969.