Donald Edmond Pelotte facts for kids

Styles of Donald Edmond Pelotte
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Monsignor
Posthumous style	none

Donald E. Pelotte SSS (born April 13, 1945 – died January 7, 2010) was an important American leader in the Roman Catholic Church. He was a member of the Abenaki people, a Native American tribe. From 1986 to 2008, he served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Gallup in New Mexico. Bishop Pelotte was the first Native American person to become a Catholic bishop in the United States.

About Donald Pelotte

His Early Life

Donald Pelotte was born on April 13, 1945, in Waterville, Maine. His parents were Norris Albert Pelotte and Margaret Yvonne LaBrie Pelotte. His father was Abenaki, and his mother came from a French-Canadian family. Donald and his twin brother, Dana, were the youngest of five brothers.

Donald Pelotte went to Eymard Seminary in Hyde Park, New York, for his high school studies. He then attended John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, for college. Later, he completed his advanced studies at Fordham University in New York City. He even wrote a book based on his doctoral work.

Becoming a Priest

Donald Pelotte became a priest on September 2, 1972. He was ordained by Bishop Edward Cornelius O’Leary. When he was 33 years old, he became the leader of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in the United States. At that time, he was the youngest person to lead a religious community of men in the country.

Bishop of Gallup

On February 24, 1986, Pope John Paul II chose Pelotte to be the coadjutor bishop for the Diocese of Gallup. This meant he would help the current bishop and then take over. He officially became a bishop on May 6, 1986. When Bishop Jerome J. Hastrich retired on March 31, 1990, Pelotte became the Bishop of Gallup.

From 1986 to 2008, Bishop Pelotte also helped lead the Tekakwitha Conference. This group connects Native American and First Nation Catholics.

A special moment in his life was when he ordained his own twin brother, Dana F. Pelotte, as a priest. This happened on September 4, 1999, in Waterville. It is very rare for a bishop to ordain his own twin.

In 2007, Bishop Pelotte had a serious injury at his home in Gallup. He said he fell down the stairs. He spent time recovering in a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Later, he wondered if his injuries were from something else.

In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI gave Bishop Pelotte a year off to continue his recovery. On April 30, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop Pelotte's resignation. This meant he stepped down as bishop of the Diocese of Gallup.

Later Life and Passing

On December 30, 2009, Bishop Pelotte was hospitalized in Gallup. He passed away on January 7, 2010. His funeral was held on January 14, 2010, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup. He was buried in the cathedral's crypt, as he had wished.