Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, installed as the Fourth Bishop of Gary on January 6, 2015, was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on May 20, 1989. Following ordination, Bishop Hying served as an associate pastor and pastor at parishes in the archdiocese. In 2007, then-Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan appointed him Rector of Saint Francis de Sales Seminary where he served until 2011. On May 26, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Hying as the seventh Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He was ordained July 20, 2011.
Bishop Hying is a native of West Allis, Wisconsin. He was born to Albert and Catherine Hying (both deceased) on August 18, 1963, and is the youngest of six sons. He attended St. Aloysius and Immaculate Heart of Mary grade schools in West Allis, Brookfield Central High School, and Marquette University. He earned his Masters of Divinity from Saint Francis de Sales Seminary.
Through his pastoral letter, “Go, Therefore, and Make Disciples of All Nations,” Bishop Hying called the Diocese of Gary’s first synod in February 2016. After extensive discussion with parishes to determine areas of opportunity and challenge, the synod was held on Pentecost weekend, June 2-4, 2017.
In September 2017, Bishop Hying issued a synod pastoral response to the faithful of the diocese, highlighting the call to missionary discipleship and outlining pastoral priorities in eight ecclesial areas: Evangelization; Discipleship/Formation; Social Teaching; Marriage and Family; Young Catholics; Sacraments, Prayer and Worship; Stewardship; and Vocations and Leadership Formation. Parishes developed plans to focus on and carry out initiatives in the area of evangelization and at least two other ecclesial areas.
As 2019 got underway, Bishop Hying began visiting parishes and meeting with staff and parish councils as part of a year-long plan to listen to successes, help with challenges and encourage parishes in their efforts. On April 25, 2019, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Hying to serve as the Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin. He was installed as Bishop of Madison on June 25, 2019.
During his time in the Diocese of Gary, Bishop Hying served as the Episcopal Liaison for the National Association of Catholic Chaplains and as Episcopal Advisor to the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He was also a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe and the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People.
Read Bishop Hying Columns in NWI Catholic
View Bishop Hying's Video Messages:
Following are links to Bishop Hying’s featured Pastoral Letters "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..."