Donald William Montrose (May 13, 1923 – May 7, 2008) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Stockton in California from 1986 to 1999. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles from 1983 to 1986.


Donald William Montrose
Bishop of Stockton
titular bishop of Forum Novum
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of Stockton
Other post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles
1983 to 1986
Orders
OrdinationMay 7, 1948
by James McIntyre
ConsecrationMay 12, 1983
by Timothy Manning
Personal details
Born(1923-05-13)May 13, 1923
DiedMay 7, 2008(2008-05-07) (aged 84)

Biography

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Montrose was born on May 13, 1923, in Denver, Colorado.[1] When he was eleven, his family moved to Southern California.

Montrose was ordained by Cardinal James McIntyre as a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on May 7, 1949.[1] [2] He served as head of St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California.

Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles

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Montrose was appointed on March 25, 1983, by Pope John Paul II as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and as titular bishop of Forum Novum. Montrose was consecrated by Cardinal Timothy Manning on May 12, 1983.[1][2]

Bishop of Stockton

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John Paul II appointed Montrose as bishop of the Diocese of Stockton on December 17, 1985; he was installed on February 20, 1986. [1][2]

Montrose focused on getting Spanish-speaking priests in the diocese. He went to Mexico, Colombia and other Latin American countries and met with various bishops to try to get them to send him fluent Spanish speaking priests. In 1988, Montrose succeeded in getting the Sisters of the Cross to relocate to the diocese from Mexico. They located in Modesto, California, the second largest city in the diocese.[3]

In 1998, a jury awarded $30 million to Joh and John Howard, two brothers from Lodi, California, who were sexually molested as children during the 1970's and 80's by a parish priest. While disappointed at the size of the verdict, Montrose apologized to the Howard family "...for this horrible evil that was inflicted on them. We do not understand the depth of the problem."[4]

John Paul II accepted Montrose's resignation as bishop of Stockton on January 18, 1999.[1] Donald Montrose died on May 7, 2008.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Bishop Donald William Montrose [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  2. ^ a b c d "Former Bishops". Diocese of Stockton. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  3. ^ "Former Bishop Donald Montrose dies". The Modesto Bee. May 8, 2008. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  4. ^ Writer, Ross FarrowNews-Sentinel Staff. "Ex-bishop Montrose dies at 84". Lodinews.com. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Stockton
1986–1999
Succeeded by