Thirty-seventh in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
On April 25, 2019, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Donald J. Hying as the Fifth Bishop of Madison to succeed the late Bishop Robert C. Morlino.
Msgr. James Bartylla, diocesan administrator, announced the news to the people of the Diocese of Madison saying, “We are deeply grateful to Pope Francis for his pastoral solicitude in appointing Most Reverend Donald J. Hying as the Bishop of Madison. Please join us in prayer to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for Bishop Hying and his episcopal ministry, as we look forward to his installation as the Fifth Bishop of Madison.”
Bishop Hying’s background
Bishop Hying was familiar with the Diocese of Madison. About half of his relatives live in Grant and Iowa Counties in the diocese. “It’s great to come home to the state,” he said.
The youngest of six sons, Bishop Hying was born in West Allis, Wis., to parents Catherine and Albert Hying (both deceased). His father was born in Highland in the Diocese of Madison.
Bishop Hying received a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and a master of divinity degree from St. Francis Seminary, both in Milwaukee.
On May 20, 1989, Bishop Hying was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish, Menomonee Falls, from 1989 to 1994. He served as a team member for La Sagrada Familia Parroquia in the Dominican Republic from 1994 to 1997.
He returned to the United States and served as the parochial administrator of St. Peter Parish (1998), then as the parochial vicar of St. Anthony Parish, Milwaukee, from 1998 to 1999. He was then appointed the pastor of Our Lady of Good Hope Parish, Milwaukee, from 1999 to 2005. In 2006, he served as parochial administrator of St. Augustine Parish, Milwaukee.
He was Dean of Formation at St. Francis de Sales Seminary from 2005 to 2007 and was appointed rector of the seminary by Archbishop Timothy Dolan, serving from 2007 to 2011.
On May 26, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Father Hying the Titular Bishop of Regiae and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He was consecrated a bishop on July 20, 2011.
On November 24, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Hying as the Fourth Bishop of Gary, Ind. He was installed there on January 6, 2015.
Coming to Madison
“I’m very enthused, excited, and grateful to be here,” said Bishop Hying at a press conference held on April 25, 2019, at Holy Name Heights in Madison.
With many relatives in the Diocese of Madison and a lot of time spent here over the years, he said, “I feel very much at home here. I have great memories of southwest Wisconsin, the beauty of the faith here, the beauty of the land here.”
He said, “It is with great enthusiasm and gratitude that I come to you, today, as the new leader, the Bishop of Madison, to build on the great foundation of Bishop Morlino.”
He added, “Madison is a significant community because it is the capital of the state and the university here. There’s a great significance to what happens in this city and in this diocese. I’m very grateful to be a part of it.”
Rejoicing in the current Easter season, he said, “It really comes down to proclaiming Jesus, crucified and risen. So, today really isn’t about me. It’s always about the Lord. It’s always about what Jesus is doing for us.”
Bishop Hying’s installation
Bishop Hying’s motto as bishop is “Caritas Numquam Excidit,” translated as “Love Never Fails.” It is taken from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians that expresses the Christian doctrine that in all we do, we should do it with love.
He was installed as Bishop of Madison on June 25, 2019, at St. Maria Goretti Church in Madison. Among those concelebrating was Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, who said, “I am grateful for your service to the Church of Gary, which you have shepherded so wisely. While you will be sorely missed there, the Holy Father has called you to lead the Church of Madison, whose shepherd was taken suddenly.”
In his homily Bishop Hying said, “This is our moment to boldly proclaim Christ, to live the faith, and to move forward the mission of the Church with joyful confidence in the Holy Spirit.”
He said to the people of the diocese, “To all of you, I pledge my heart and my prayers. How I wish I could sit down in the kitchen of every home, get to know all of you, drink a big cup of coffee, and have a great chat. That will happen, I hope, one person and one place at a time.”
Goals as bishop
Bishop Hying said he wanted to meet with every priest and deacon in the Diocese of Madison, “to get to know them as people.”
He also hoped to visit every parish, school, and community in the diocese in the next year. “I would love to set that as an ambitious goal,” he said.
Bishop Hying wrote his first column called “From the Bishop’s Desk” in the June 27, 2019, issue of the Catholic Herald.
He said he planned to write a column each week in the diocesan newspaper. In that first column, he dedicated his new ministry to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Source: Archives of the Catholic Herald newspaper.
Mary C. Uhler served on the staff of the Catholic Herald-Diocese of Madison for almost 47 years, the last 34 years as editor. She retired in July of 2020.