Paul Vincent Donovan (September 1, 1924 – April 27, 2011) was an American prelate of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. He served as the first bishop of the new

Diocese of Kalamazoo The Diocese of Kalamazoo () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in southwestern Michigan in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of ...

in Michigan from 1971 to 1994.

Biography

Early life

Paul Donovan was born on September 1, 1924, in

Bernard, Iowa Bernard is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. The population was 114 in the 2020 census, an increase from the 97 population in 2000. Bernard is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. Geography According to the Un ...

. His family later move to Lansing, Michigan, where he entered St. Mary's Cathedral High School.. Having decided to become a priest, Donovan began his priestly studies in 1941 at St. Joseph Seminary. In 1946, he went to

Saint Gregory Seminary Saint Gregory Seminary, also known as Mount Saint Gregory, was a Minor seminary, high school and college seminary of the Catholic Church in Mount Washington, Cincinnati, serving the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in Ohio. Founded in 1890 by bishop Wi ...

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

, receiving a

Bachelor of Philosophy Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil, BPh, or PhB; or or ) is the title of an academic degree in philosophy that usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects. Unlike many other bachelor's degrees, the ...

degree there. After finishing at St. Gregory's, Donovan entered Mount St. Mary Seminary in

Norwood, Ohio Norwood is the third most populous city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and an enclave of the larger city of Cincinnati. The population was 19,043 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Originally settled as an early suburb of ...

to study theology.

Priesthood

Donovan was ordained a priest by Bishop Joseph Henry Albers for the

Diocese of Lansing The Diocese of Lansing () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory – or diocese – of the Catholic Church located in the south-central portion of Michigan in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of metr ...

on May 20, 1950. After his ordination, Donovan was assigned as associate pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The population was 31,309 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along Interstate 94 in Michigan, Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127 in Michigan, U.S ...

. He left St. Mary in 1951 to serve as assistant to Bishop Albers for the next five years. Donovan was sent to Rome to study at the

Pontifical Lateran University The Pontifical Lateran University (; ), also known as Lateranum, is a pontifical university based in Rome. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. The university ...

. earning a

Licentiate of Canon Law Licentiate of Canon Law (; JCL) is the title of an advanced graduate degree with canonical effects in the Roman Catholic Church offered by pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties of canon law. Licentiate is the title of a person who ...

in 1957. After returning to Michigan, Donovan was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish near Jackson, serving there from 1959 to 1968. He was transferred to

Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city in Genesee County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. Located along the Flint River (Michigan), Flint River northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the Central Michigan, Mid Michigan region. Flin ...

, in 1968 to become pastor of St. Agnes Parish.

Bishop of Kalamazoo

On June 15, 1971, Pope

Paul VI Pope Paul VI (born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding John XXII ...

named Donovan the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of Kalamazoo. He was consecrated on July 21, 1971, by Cardinal

John Dearden John Francis Dearden (October 15, 1907 – August 1, 1988) was an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Detroit from 1958 to 1980, and was created a cardinal in 1969. He previously served as Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1950 to 195 ...

. The co-consecrators were Bishops

Alexander M. Zaleski Alexander Mieceslaus Zaleski (June 24, 1906 – May 16, 1975) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Lansing in Michigan from 1965 until his death in 1975. He previously served as an auxil ...

and Michael Green. Donovan choose as his episcopal motto: "To Serve Rather Than Be Served."

Retirement and legacy

On November 22, 1994, Pope John Paul II accepted Donovan's resignation as bishop of Kalamazoo for health reasons. Paul Donovan died at age 86 on April 27, 2011, in Wayland Township, Michigan. He had driven into a small pond in a secluded area, and suffered a fatal heart attack after reaching the shore. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kalamazoo.

References

People from Dubuque County, Iowa 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States 1924 births 2011 deaths Roman Catholic bishops of Kalamazoo Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing Catholics from Iowa {{US-RC-bishop-stub