Pope Francis Accepts the Resignation of Bishop Michael Warfel and Appoints Coadjutor Bishop Jeffrey Fleming of Great Falls-Billings, Montana, USA

Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Bishop Michael Warfel of Great Falls-Billings; Succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Jeffrey Fleming

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael W. Warfel from the Office of Bishop of Great Falls-Billings. Bishop Jeffrey M. Fleming, up until now coadjutor bishop of the same diocese, will succeed him as bishop of Great Falls-Billings.

August 22, 2023
WASHINGTON - Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael W. Warfel from the Office of Bishop of Great Falls-Billings. Bishop Jeffrey M. Fleming, up until now coadjutor bishop of the same diocese, will succeed him as bishop of Great Falls-Billings.

The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on August 22, 2023, by Cardinal-designate Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

The Diocese of Great Falls-Billings is comprised of 94,158 square miles in the State of Montana and has a total population of 433,562 of which 29,607 are Catholic.

Biography of Bishop Jeffrey M. Fleming

A native son of Montana, Bishop Fleming was born to Mike and Glenda Fleming in Billings and raised in Belt. He graduated from Carroll College in Helena, MT., with degrees in Theology and Religious Education. He attended Mt. Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Ore. earning an MA in Theology, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 19, 1992 by Bishop Eldon Francis Curtiss. He earned a Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL) in 1998 from the Catholic University of America.

He was assigned (1992) as Associate Pastor for the Anaconda Catholic Community and then (1996) to the Cathedral of St. Helena before an appointment as Chaplain to Carroll College and Priest Director of Legendary Lodge in 1998. In 2003 he was made pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Dillon before becoming the pastor (2006) at Christ the King Parish in Missoula. Pastoral responsibility (2013) for St. John the Baptist Parish in Frenchtown was added before he was assigned to Helena in 2019. While administrator for St. Thomas Parish in Helmville, St. Jude Parish in Lincoln, and Flint Creek Catholic Community, he served the Diocese of Helena as Director of the Chancery, Vice Chancellor, and Adjutant Judicial Vicar. In 2020 he was appointed Moderator of the Curia and Chancellor and in 2022 became the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Helena. On April 19, 2022 Pope Francis appointed him as the Coadjutor of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings.

Bishop Jeffrey M. Fleming was ordained Bishop on June 22, 2022 in Great Falls, Montana. He served the diocese in the role of Coadjutor Bishop until August 22, 2023 when he became the 8th Ordinary of the Diocese.

Coat of Arms of His Excellency, The Most Reverend Jeffrey Michael Fleming, Bishop of Great Falls-Billings

Motto “Go Make Disciples”
For his episcopal motto, Bishop Fleming has chosen the beginning of the Great Commission that Jesus gives to the Church. By this choice, His Excellency wishes to express that all believers are called and commissioned by Christ to “Go Make Disciples.”

Sources: USCCB Release - https://diocesegfb.org/bishop-jeffery-m-fleming/