DIOCESE OF GALLUP
Pastoral Center Office
P.O. Box 1338
Gallup, NM 87305
January 3, 2008
Contact: Matt Doyle
505-593-3997
Bishop Pelotte given medical leave; Phoenix bishop named Apostolic Administrator
On behalf of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, has notified Bishop Donald E. Pelotte, SSS of the Diocese of Gallup that he has been granted a one-year medical leave of absence. The leave is effective immediately. Archbishop Sambi has also notified Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix that he will serve as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Gallup.
Bishop Pelotte, 62, suffered severe injures in a fall July 23 at his home in Gallup and has been unable to recover as quickly and completely as had been hoped. The ill-effects of the injuries were cited by Bishop Pelotte in his letter to the Holy See seeking the medical leave of absence.
After receiving treatment in Arizona, Texas and Florida, Bishop Pelotte returned to Gallup on Sept. 21. It was hoped at the time that a return to more familiar surroundings would enhance the bishop’s recovery, but that did not happen. Bishop Pelotte left Gallup again on Dec. 13 for further medical treatment.
Bishop Pelotte was coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Gallup from 1986 until 1990. With the retirement of Bishop Jerome Hastrich, Bishop Pelotte became the third bishop of the diocese in 1990.
A native of Waterville, Maine, Bishop Pelotte is a member of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and received a Ph.D. in Theology from Fordham University in 1975.
Bishop Pelotte’s father was a member of the Abenaki tribe. When he was ordained coadjutor and then bishop of Gallup, it marked the first time a Native American bishop had served a diocese in the United States.
Bishop Olmsted was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln, Neb. in 1973. He was installed as the Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, December 20, 2003. Prior to his arrival in Phoenix he served as Bishop of Wichita, Kan. after being ordained coadjutor bishop on April 20, 1999. Before serving in Wichita, he served as the rector / president of the Pontifical College Josephinum, a Catholic seminary in Columbus, Ohio.
Bishop Olmsted lived in Italy for more than 16 years. He received a Masters of Arts in Theology, a Doctorate in Canon Law and served for nine years in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See. While serving the Holy See he lived at the Pontifical North American College, assisting seminarians with spiritual direction.
An apostolic administrator is appointed by the Holy Father on either a permanent or temporary basis for many reasons, including severe illness of the bishop of a diocese. The duties assigned to Bishop Olmsted as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Gallup are similar to those that Bishop Pelotte had, with the exception that they are temporary, i.e they will last only until Bishop Pelotte is able to return or his successor is appointed and installed.
Bishop Olmsted has asked that the faithful of the Diocese of Gallup continue to pray for Bishop Pelotte during his on-going recuperation. He also asks for prayers for himself as he assumes his pastoral duties as Apostolic Administrator of Gallup.
Pastoral Center Office
P.O. Box 1338
Gallup, NM 87305
January 3, 2008
Contact: Matt Doyle
505-593-3997
Bishop Pelotte given medical leave; Phoenix bishop named Apostolic Administrator
On behalf of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, has notified Bishop Donald E. Pelotte, SSS of the Diocese of Gallup that he has been granted a one-year medical leave of absence. The leave is effective immediately. Archbishop Sambi has also notified Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix that he will serve as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Gallup.
Bishop Pelotte, 62, suffered severe injures in a fall July 23 at his home in Gallup and has been unable to recover as quickly and completely as had been hoped. The ill-effects of the injuries were cited by Bishop Pelotte in his letter to the Holy See seeking the medical leave of absence.
After receiving treatment in Arizona, Texas and Florida, Bishop Pelotte returned to Gallup on Sept. 21. It was hoped at the time that a return to more familiar surroundings would enhance the bishop’s recovery, but that did not happen. Bishop Pelotte left Gallup again on Dec. 13 for further medical treatment.
Bishop Pelotte was coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Gallup from 1986 until 1990. With the retirement of Bishop Jerome Hastrich, Bishop Pelotte became the third bishop of the diocese in 1990.
A native of Waterville, Maine, Bishop Pelotte is a member of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and received a Ph.D. in Theology from Fordham University in 1975.
Bishop Pelotte’s father was a member of the Abenaki tribe. When he was ordained coadjutor and then bishop of Gallup, it marked the first time a Native American bishop had served a diocese in the United States.
Bishop Olmsted was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln, Neb. in 1973. He was installed as the Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, December 20, 2003. Prior to his arrival in Phoenix he served as Bishop of Wichita, Kan. after being ordained coadjutor bishop on April 20, 1999. Before serving in Wichita, he served as the rector / president of the Pontifical College Josephinum, a Catholic seminary in Columbus, Ohio.
Bishop Olmsted lived in Italy for more than 16 years. He received a Masters of Arts in Theology, a Doctorate in Canon Law and served for nine years in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See. While serving the Holy See he lived at the Pontifical North American College, assisting seminarians with spiritual direction.
An apostolic administrator is appointed by the Holy Father on either a permanent or temporary basis for many reasons, including severe illness of the bishop of a diocese. The duties assigned to Bishop Olmsted as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Gallup are similar to those that Bishop Pelotte had, with the exception that they are temporary, i.e they will last only until Bishop Pelotte is able to return or his successor is appointed and installed.
Bishop Olmsted has asked that the faithful of the Diocese of Gallup continue to pray for Bishop Pelotte during his on-going recuperation. He also asks for prayers for himself as he assumes his pastoral duties as Apostolic Administrator of Gallup.
