Archdiocese of Newark gets two new Auxiliary Bishops

Vatican City, May 20, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Pope John Paul II appointed today two new Auxiliary bishops to the Archdiocese of Newark, headed by Archbishop John Myers.

The new Auxiliaries are  Fr. Thomas A. Donato, spiritual director of the Major Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in South Orange; and Fr. John W. Flesey, director of permanent formation for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Newark.

Thomas A. Donato was born on October 1, 1940 at Jersey City. He studied  at Saint Michael’s High School,  and then at Seton Hall University at South Orange. He finished his theological studies at the Immaculate Conception Seminary  in Darlington.

After being ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark on May 29 1965,  he was vicar at Saint John the Baptist Parish  in Hillsdale (1965-1973)  and at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in  Bayonne (1973-1982); Pastor  of the Assumption Parish in Bayonne (1982-1988),  Saint Paul Parish  in Ramsey (1988-2001)  and  Saint Raphael Parish in  Livingstone (2001-2003).  Since June 2003  he has been the spiritual director of the Immaculate Conception Seminary  in South Orange. He has been a Prelate of Honor since 1996.

Fr. John W. Flesey was born in Jersey City  on August 6, 1942. After finishing school  at Saint Peter’s Preparatory School,  he studied at Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City. He studied philosophy  at the Immaculate Conception Seminary  in South Orange and was sent to the North American College in Rome to study theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.  He also graduated in spiritual theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas  (1983-1986).

Flesey was ordained a priest  on May 31 1969, and since then he has served as: vicar and administrator of Saint Bernard Parish in Plainfield (1969-1977); Director of formation of the Immaculate Conception Seminary  in South Orange (1986-1995); Dean of the Theological Faculty  at  Seton Hall University in South Orange (1995-2001), rector of the Immaculate Conception Seminary  in South Orange (1995-2000)  and spiritual director of the same seminary (2001-2003); Since 2003 he has served as director of permanent  formation for the Clergy.

The new Auxiliaries  will succeed Bishops Charles J. McDonnell and David Arias, O.A.R. whose resignations from the office of auxiliary were accepted upon having reached the age limit.