John Anthony Donovan
John Anthony Donovan was a Canadian-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Toledo from 1967 to 1980.Biography
Donovan was born in Chatham, Ontario, the youngest son in a family of ten. After immigrating to the United States, he attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. He then studied at the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Donovan was ordained to the priesthood on December 8, 1935. He later served as chancellor and vicar general of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
On September 6, 1954, Donovan was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Rhasus by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 26 from Cardinal Edward Mooney, with Bishops Allen James Babcock and Alexander M. Zaleski serving as co-consecrators. From 1958 to April, 1967 he presided over St. Veronica's parish in East Detroit, MI. From 1962 to 1965, he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council. Donovan was named the fifth Bishop of Toledo, Ohio, on February 25, 1967. He was formally installed on April 18, 1967.
Considered progressive and innovative, Donovan implemented the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the diocese by joining the , and establishing a permanent diaconate and a chancery office for divorced, separated, and widowed Catholics. In 1967 he issued a pastoral letter endorsing open housing, which was defeated in a citywide referendum that fall. He also established the Diocesan Development Fund and special programs for Spanish-speaking, African American and elderly Catholics. During his tenure, Donovan also established in Lexington in 1969 and in Toledo in 1978. He increased the number of Catholics in the diocese from 301,000 to 348,000.
After thirteen years as Bishop of Toledo, Donovan resigned due to a heart ailment on July 29, 1980. He later died at Lake Park Nursing Facility in Sylvania, aged 80. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery.
