John Anthony Donovan (August 5, 1911 – September 18, 1991) was a Canadian-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Toledo in Ohio from 1967 to 1980. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit in Michigan from 1954 to 1967.


John Anthony Donovan
Bishop of Toledo
Titular Bishop of Rhasus
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of Toledo
PredecessorGeorge John Rehring
SuccessorJames Robert Hoffman
Other post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
1954 to 1967
Titular Bishop of Rhasus
Orders
OrdinationDecember 8, 1935
by Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani
ConsecrationOctober 26, 1954
by Edward Mooney
Personal details
BornAugust 5, 1911
DiedSeptember 18, 1991(1991-09-18) (aged 80)
Sylvania, Ohio, US
EducationSacred Heart Seminary
Pontifical Gregorian University

Biography

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Early life

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Donovan was born on August 5, 1911, in Chatham, Ontario, the youngest son in a family of ten.[1] After immigrating to the United States, he attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Michigan.[2] He then studied at the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.[2]

Donovan was ordained to the priesthood in Rome for the Archdiocese of Detroit by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani on December 8, 1935.[3] He later served as chancellor and vicar general of the archdiocese.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

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On September 6, 1954, Donovan was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Rhasus by Pope Pius XII.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on October 26, 1954, from Cardinal Edward Mooney, with Bishops Allen Babcock and Alexander M. Zaleski serving as co-consecrators.[3] From 1958 to April 1967, he presided over St. Veronica's Parish in East Detroit, Michigan. From 1962 to 1965, he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome

Bishop of Toledo

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Donovan was named the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Toledo by Pope Paul VI on February 25, 1967.[3] He was formally installed on April 18, 1967.[3]

Considered progressive and innovative, Donovan implemented the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the diocese by joining the Ohio Council of Churches, and establishing a permanent diaconate and a chancery office for divorced, separated, and widowed Catholics.[1] In 1967, he issued a pastoral letter endorsing open housing, which was defeated in a citywide referendum that fall.[2] He also established the Diocesan Development Fund and special programs for Spanish-speaking, African American and elderly Catholics.[1] During his tenure, Donovan also established Resurrection Parish in Lexington, Ohio, in 1969 and St. Joan of Arc Parish in Toledo in 1978. He increased the number of Catholics in the diocese from 301,000 to 348,000.[1]

On July 29, 1980, Pope John Paul II accepted Donovan's resignation due to heart disease as bishop of the Diocese of Toledo.[3] John Donovan died at Lake Park Nursing Facility in Sylvania, Ohio, on September 18, 1991, at age 80.[2] He is buried at Calvary Cemetery.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Steele, Lee (1980-07-29). "Bishop Donovan Retiring As Leader Of Toledo Diocese". The Toledo Blade.
  2. ^ a b c d e Tarjanyi, Judy (1991-09-19). "John Donovan, fifth bishop to serve Toledo". The Toledo Blade.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Bishop John Anthony Donovan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Toledo
1967–1980
Succeeded by