By Catholic News Service

NEWARK, N.J. -- Auxiliary Bishop Thomas A. Donato, a native of New Jersey who ministered and served in the Archdiocese of Newark throughout his 50-year priesthood, died Aug. 25 of cancer at the age of 75.

In his role as auxiliary bishop, he served as regional bishop of Hudson County, New Jersey, and as pastor of St. Henry Parish in Bayonne. Prior to being named a bishop by Pope Benedict in 2004, he had served in parish ministry and as spiritual director of Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University.

Newark Archbishop John J. Myers said Bishop Donato "saw Christ in everyone he met."

"Bishop Donato embodied the priestly ideal," Archbishop Myers said in an Aug. 26 statement.

"I am grateful that I, too, came to know this holy man who influenced and helped deepen the faith of so many people in parish ministry, and of many men studying for priestly service for the Archdiocese of Newark."

The archbishop also noted that Bishop Donato "lived the words of St. John XXIII, 'At my window a light will be burning. All may come in, the arms of a friend will always be waiting.'"

Bishop Donato was born Oct. 1, 1940 in Jersey City, New Jersey, and was one of six children of the late Antonio and Rosa Arturi Donato. He graduated from the College Seminary at Seton Hall University in 1961 and entered Immaculate Conception Seminary where he studied for the priesthood.

He was ordained to the priesthood May 29, 1965, and observed his 50th anniversary as a priest earlier in 2015. He was ordained a bishop Aug. 4, 2004.

A funeral Mass was scheduled for Aug. 31 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, New Jersey.