Press Release for Our Beloved Bishop Montrose

For Immediate Release to the Press
May 7, 2008
Contact:
Sr. Terry Davis 209.466.0636
Director of Communications,
Diocese of Stockton

The retired Catholic Bishop of Stockton, Donald W. Montrose, died this morning, May 7, just after midnight. For the past week, he was in the care of Hospice of San Joaquin. He is survived by a cousin through marriage, Mary Ellen Polomski, of New Jersey.

Bishop Montrose was installed as the fourth bishop of Stockton on February 20, 1986 and served as bishop until his retirement on January 18, 1999. He has lived in Stockton since that time.

Funeral arrangements are:

Bishop Donald W. Montrose

Bishop Donald W. Montrose was born on May 13, 1923 in Denver, Colorado where he lived until 1936 when his family moved to Glendale, California. He attended Catholic school and entered seminary training in 1938. He graduated in 1943 from Los Angeles College, the Junior Seminary, for the remaining years of High School and two years of college. His final six years of theology and seminary training were completed at Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 7, 1949 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He served in parishes as a parochial vicar and at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana as a teacher and principal from 1950-1964. His postgraduate degrees were in Spanish and education and he was appointed Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese from 1964-1977. He was also pastor of Resurrection Parish during this time.

Montrose was appointed by Pope John Paul II and ordained a bishop on May 12, 1983 by Timothy Cardinal Manning. He served as an auxiliary bishop for Los Angeles and was named Rector-President of St. John’s Seminary College in 1984.

In 1986 he was installed as the fourth Bishop of Stockton. During his tenure in Stockton, he was actively involved in two areas of greatest concern for him - Catholic education and issues related to Hispanic peoples in this country. His participation in the following national committees indicates his ability and commitment:

1. 1986. Appointed a member of the Board of Directors of the California Hispanic Institute of California, and served on its curriculum committee
2. 1986. Elected to the Education Committee of the United States Catholic Conference
3. 1989. Elected Vice President of the California Catholic Conference for a three year term
4. 1991. Was a member of the National Committee for the Charismatic Renewal of the Hispanics, serving as Episcopal Moderator

Bishop Montrose will be remembered for meeting the needs of Hispanics in this diocese in many ways but particularly for bringing Spanish-speaking Priests and Sisters to this area. The Sisters of the Cross of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are a Contemplative community he invited to Modesto. Bishop Montrose’s body will be in their convent chapel throughout the night before the funeral Mass. The other Sisters he brought into the diocese are the Eucharistic Franciscan Missionary Sisters who serve the people of this diocese in religious education.

When people recall the life of Bishop Montrose, they note his gentle spirit of humility, and those close to him always appreciated his sense of humor and story telling. He was a man of personal prayer and participated actively in the Charismatic Renewal movement. His devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe guided his choice of motto on his coat of arms in Spanish: “Esclavo Soy”, which recalls Mary’s response to the Angel Gabriel, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.” It is appropriate that so many of the important dates in his life occurred in the month of May, which is dedicated to Mary.

Last Update May 8, 2008