Chris Rossetti
ERIE, Pa. – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, which serves Northwestern Pennsylvania including Warren County, announced that retired Bishop Donald Trautman died Saturday, Feb. 26.
Trautman, who was 85, headed the Diocese for 22 years through October 2012. At the time of his death at Saint Mary’s of Asbury Ridge in Millcreek Township, Erie County, he was serving the Erie Diocese as a bishop emeritus.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., June 24, 1936, to the late Edward J. and Martha Trautman, Bishop Trautman studied the priesthood at the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary in Buffalo and Our Lady of the Angels Seminary at Niagara University in Niagara Falls, N.Y. He completed his theological studies with the Jesuits at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, studying under noted theologian Karl Rahner and renowned liturgist Josef Jungmann. In 1962, he received his licentiate in sacred theology.
Bishop Trautman was ordained a priest in Innsbruck on April 7, 1962, by Bishop Paul Rusch and received his licentiate degree the same year. His first assignment was administrator of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Collins Center, N.Y.
Later, he pursued higher studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Before returning to Europe, he was an associate pastor of Holy Family Parish in Buffalo.
Bishop Trautman continued his post-graduate studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, where he received his licentiate degree in scripture in 1965. He was awarded his doctorate in sacred theology with honors from St. Thomas Aquinas University in Rome in 1966. While working toward his doctorate, he did advanced studies in Scripture. He wrote his doctoral thesis on the biblical understanding of celibacy.
During his time in Rome, Bishop Trautman assisted at the Second Vatican Council.
From 1966 to 1973, he served as professor of Scripture and theology at St. John Vianney Seminary (now Christ the King Seminary), East Aurora, N.Y. He also served as dean of students and retreat master for religious communities. During that time he was elected to the priests’ senate and served as vice president and president of the Diocesan Pastoral Council in Buffalo.
Before his appointment as diocesan chancellor in 1973, Bishop Trautman served as secretary to Bishop Edward Head. In 1974, he was named vicar general of the diocese. Pope Paul VI named him a prelate of honor with the title of Reverend Monsignor in 1975.
On Feb. 27, 1985, Pope John Paul II named him titular bishop of Sassura and auxiliary bishop of Buffalo. He was consecrated bishop on April 16, 1985, at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo by Bishop Head.
On May 15, 1985, he was appointed pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Williamsville, N.Y., while continuing as vicar general. He became rector of Christ the King Seminary in June of 1990.
Bishop Trautman was named the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Erie by Pope John Paul II on June 12, 1990. He took canonical possession of the Diocese of Erie on July 15, 1990, at an evening prayer service at St. Peter Cathedral in Erie. On July 16, 1990, he was formally installed as bishop during a Mass at St. Peter Cathedral.
He served as the parish as bishop until being succeeded by the current bishop, Bishop Lawrence Persico, on Oct. 1, 2012.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
More information on Trautman can be found at the Diocese of Erie’s website.
