The Most Rev. Paul V. Donovan, 86 / Sept. 1, 1924 — April 28, 2011
Published 6:18 pm Sunday, May 1, 2011
The Most Rev. Paul V. Donovan, 86, of Kalamazoo, into his eternal reward Thursday, April 28, 2011.
Donovan
The Most Rev. Paul V. Donovan, Bishop Emeritus of Kalamazoo, was born Sept. 1, 1924 in Bernard, Iowa and was the fifth of nine children of Jon and Loretta (Carew) Donovan.
Bishop Donovan was ordained a priest on May 20, 1950 at St. Mary Cathedral, in Lansing, Mich.
On July 21, 1971, the Diocese of Kalamazoo was established by Pope Paul VI and Father Paul Donovan was ordained and installed as the first bishop of the new diocese. He took as his Episcopal motto the scriptural injunction “To serve rather than to be served.”
On Nov. 22, 1994, Bishop Paul V. Donovan announced that he was resigning as bishop for health reasons.
He was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters: Helen McCarthy, Rita McCarthy, Leonard Donovan, Bernadine Clinton, Maureen Curtis, John Thomas Donovan and Elizabeth Donovan.
He is survived by one sister, Florence (Sr. Maureen) Donovan.
Reception of Bishop Donovan’s body will take place Monday at 1 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral.
He will lie in state from 1 to 8 p.m.; the Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.
Bishop Donovan’s body will lie in state Tuesday from 1 to 8 p.m. at the cathedral, where a vigil/prayer service will be celebrated at 7 p.m.
Final viewing will be held Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., with His Excellence Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit and Metropolitan of the Michigan Province as Presider.
Entombment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Following the entombment, food and fellowship will be shared at the Fr. Crowley Cathedral Center.
Please visit The Most Rev. Paul Donovan’s personal Web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read Bishop Donovan’s complete biography, archive a favorite memory or photo and sign his online guest book.
Memorial donations may be made to The Bishop Paul V. Donovan Shepherds’ Care Fund for seminarian education and the support of retired priests. Donations may be sent to: The Diocese of Kalamazoo, attn: Business Office, 215 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007.
Arrangements by Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler–Kalamazoo (800-822-7594).
