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Auxiliary Bishops Named for Newark Archdiocese Pope John Paul II has named as Auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Newark two priests of the Archdiocese. The Holy Father today named Msgr. Thomas A. Donato, Spiritual Director of Immaculate Conception Seminary and pastor-elect of St. Henry Parish, Bayonne, and Msgr. John W. Flesey, newly appointed pastor of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Franklin Lakes, to be Auxiliary Bishops. The Most Reverend John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, also announced that the Holy Father has accepted the resignations of The Most Reverend David Arias, O.A.R., Auxiliary Bishop of Newark and Regional Bishop for Hudson County, and The Most Reverend Charles J. McDonnell, Auxiliary Bishop of Newark and Regional Bishop for Bergen County, in accordance with Canons 411 and 401. Both bishops have reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops under Church law. Bishop-elect Donato was ordained a priest for service in the Archdiocese of Newark on May 29, 1965, and Msgr. Flesey was ordained a priest for service in the Archdiocese of Newark on May 31, 1969. Bishop-elect Donato, 63, was born in Jersey City on October 1, 1940. He attended Holy Rosary Parish elementary school and St. Michael High School in Jersey City. He is a graduate of Seton Hall University and studied for the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, NJ. Following his ordination, Fr. Donato served as a parochial vicar at St. John the Baptist Parish, Hillsdale and St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Bayonne. In 1982, he was named pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Bayonne. In 1988, he was named pastor of St. Paul Parish, Ramsey, and then pastor of St. Raphael, Livingston in 2001. In 1996, The Holy Father named Fr. Donato a Prelate of Honor, with the title Monsignor. He has served as Spiritual Director of Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, since 2003, where he has been responsible for the spiritual formation of candidates for the priesthood. Bishop-elect Donato will serve the Archdiocese as Regional Bishop for Hudson County. Bishop-elect Flesey, 61, was born on August 6, 1942 in Jersey City. He attended St. Aeden Parish elementary school and St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City. He is a graduate of St. Peter’s College and studied for the priesthood at Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. Following his ordination in 1969, Fr. Flesey served as a parochial Vicar at St. Bernard’s Parish, Plainfield until 1983. In 1974, he received a Master’s in Counseling from Iona College. From 1983 until 1985, Fr. Flesey attended the Gregorian University in Rome and received a Licenciate in Sacred Theology (STL) degree. Between 1988 and 1990, Fr. Flesey was a member of the Formation Team at Immaculate Conception Seminary. In 1990, he received a Doctorate in Sacred Theology (STD) from the University of St. Thomas in Rome. From 1990 until 1995, Fr. Flesey was the Spiritual Director of Immaculate Conception Seminary, where he was responsible for spiritual formation for candidates for the priesthood. In 1995, he was named Rector/Dean of the Seminary. In 1996, The Holy Father named Fr. Flesey a Prelate of Honor, with the title Monsignor. He continued to serve as Rector of Immaculate Conception Seminary until 2001, when he returned to the post of Spiritual Director. In 2003, he was named Director of Ongoing Formation for all priests in the Archdiocese of Newark. In 2004, Msgr. Flesey was named pastor of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Franklin Lakes. Bishop-elect Flesey will serve the Archdiocese as Regional Bishop for Bergen County. In making the announcement, Archbishop Myers stated: "The Holy Father’s appointment of Bishops-elect Donato and Flesey is truly a great gift to the Archdiocese of Newark. Both bishops-elect have broad experience in the Archdiocese and have the hearts of pastors. They have served well the people, priests and seminarians of the Archdiocese. We are blessed to have them in the various new roles they will assume. Bishop-elect Donato responded to the Holy Father's appointment by saying: "I express my heartfelt thanks to Pope John Paul II, to Archbishop Myers, and to the priests of the Archdiocese who have been supportive to me through my years in priestly ministry. As I take on this new position I pray that God is ever more compassionate with me. May God grant me an abundance of graces to provide for all God’s People as I look forward to working with the Archbishop in continuing to bring this local Church of Newark through exciting and challenging times.” Bishop-elect Flesey stated, “ I humbly accept my appointment as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese. I am deeply grateful to His Holiness, for placing this confidence in me. I will be honored to be working with Archbishop Myers as he heads this grace-filled Archdiocese in challenging times. I pray that “the Lord Who has done this great work in me will bring it to completion.” In announcing the retirements, Archbishop Myers stated, “Both Bishop Arias and Bishop McDonnell have served us long and well and, God willing, will continue to do so. Ad multos annos.” Bishop Arias, a member of Order of Augustinian Recollects (O.A.R.), has served the Archdiocese since 1983 in the Hispanic Apostolate, as Regional Bishop for Hudson County and pastor of St. Joseph of the Palisades Parish, West New York. He previously was in pastoral ministry in New York, Mexico and Spain. Bishop McDonnell, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, has served in pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese of Newark and in the U.S. military. In addition to his service as Regional Bishop for Bergen County, Bishop McDonnell is pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, Hackensack, a position he will continue to hold after retirement. The Episcopal Ordination for Bishops-elect Donato and Flesey is scheduled for Wednesday, August 4, 2004, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark. Please
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