Jeffrey Michael Fleming | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Great Falls-Billings | |
| Diocese | Great Falls-Billings |
| Appointed | April 19, 2022 (as Coadjutor) |
| Installed | August 22, 2023 |
| Previous posts | Chancellor,Diocese of Helena |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 19, 1992 by Elden Francis Curtiss |
| Consecration | June 22, 2022 by Michael William Warfel,Alexander King Sample, andAustin Vetter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1966-02-10)February 10, 1966 (age 60) |
| Alma mater | Carroll College Mount Angel Seminary Catholic University of America |
| Motto | Go make disciples |
| Styles of Jeffrey Michael Fleming | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Jeffrey Michael Fleming (born February 10, 1966) is an Americanbishop of theCatholic Church and is thebishop of theDiocese of Great Falls-Billings in Montana. Fleming was named coadjutor in 2022 and bishop in 2023.
Jeffrey Fleming was born inBillings, Montana, on February 10, 1966, to Mike and Glenda (née Gibson) Fleming, and raised inBelt, Montana, along with two sisters.[1] Jeffrey Fleming received his sacraments ofConfession, First Holy Communion andConfirmation at Saint Mark's Catholic Church in Belt.
Fleming obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology and religious education atCarroll College in Helena, Montana, in 1988.[2] He earned hisMaster of Theology degree atMount Angel Seminary in Saint Benedict, Oregon, in 1992.[3]
Fleming was ordained a priest of theDiocese of Helena on May 19, 1992, byEldon F. Curtiss, Bishop of Helena.[4][2] After his 1992 ordination, the diocese assigned Fleming asparochial vicar of the Anaconda Catholic Community inAnaconda Four years later, he was transferred to the Saint Helena Cathedral Parish to serve as associate pastor there.[3]
Fleming then traveled to Washington D.C. to attend theCatholic University of America (CUA). He received aLicentiate of Canon Law from the CUASchool of Canon Law in 1998.[3] After returning to Montana in 1998, Fleming was named as chaplain of Carroll College. Fleming left Carroll in 2003 for several assignments as pastor in several Montana parishes:
BishopAustin Vetter appointed Fleming in 2019 as director of chancery services, vice chancellor, and adjutant judicial vicar. He was also named as administrator of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish inHelmville, Montana and of Saint Jude Parish inLincoln, Montana. He was elevated in 2020 to chancellor,moderator of the curia and adjunct judicial vicar.[2] Fleming also served on the priests council and the college of consultors, as well as a board member of Missoula Catholic Schools.[5]
In response to a 2020 instruction[6] from the Vatican'sCongregation for the Clergy regarding role of the parish in view of the institutional decline of the Catholic Church, Fleming said that every parishioner is called to be a:
"...witness of Christ, a light to the world..Pope Francis is calling us to be a church that looks outwardly, not just inside the church itself... To bring more people to the table, especially the poor and marginalized."[7]
Pope Francis appointed Fleming as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings on April 19, 2022, to assist BishopMichael Warfel[3][8] He was consecrated by Warfel inGreat Falls, Montana, on June 22 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.[8][9][3] BishopGeorge Leo Thomas was to have served as one of his co-consecrators but tested positive forCOVID-19. ArchbishopAlexander Sample served in his place.
Pope Francis accepted Warfel's resignation on 22 Aug 2023. Fleming succeeded Warfel as bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings at that time.[3]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Bishop of Great Falls-Billings 2023-Present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by - | Coadjutor of Great Falls-Billings 2022-2023 | Succeeded by - |
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