John Anthony Donovan

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.

Biography

Early life

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

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

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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Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo

Bishops

Ordinaries

Joseph Schrembs

Samuel Stritch

Karl Joseph Alter

George John Rehring

John Anthony Donovan

James Robert Hoffman

Leonard Paul Blair

Daniel Edward Thomas

Auxiliaries

Albert Henry Ottenweller

Robert William Donnelly

Churches

List

List of churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo

Cathedral

Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral

Basilica

Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation

Parishes

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Bethlehem

St. Michael's Ridge Church, Defiance

St. John's Church, Delphos

St. John the Baptist Church, Glandorf

St. Peter's Church, Mansfield

St. Augustine's Church, Napoleon

All Saints Church, New Riegel

Holy Angels Church, Sandusky

St. Mary's Church, Sandusky

Saints Peter and Paul Church, Sandusky

Most Pure Heart Of Mary Church, Shelby

St. Ann Church, Toledo

St. Patrick's Church, Toledo

Higher education

Colleges & universities

Lourdes University

Mercy College of Ohio

Former college

Mary Manse College

Priests

Augustus John Schwertner

Gerald Robinson

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