Dr. Patrick Donovan
Director of The Institute for Catholic FormationDr. Patrick Donovan is a Catholic husband and father who has devoted his life to ministry and formation. He has served as a teacher, retreat leader, workshop presenter, and diocesan director of youth and young adult ministry. Currently, he leads the Diocese of Bridgeport as the Director of The Institute for Catholic Formation. In addition to his ministry work, Patrick is an adjunct faculty member at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.
Recognized as a Catholic thought leader, Dr. Donovan has pioneered the integration of technology with outreach and faith formation. He has launched innovative initiatives such as the Face of Prayer campaign, which connects prayer and technology, and Catholic.chat, a cutting-edge AI-driven Catholic answers platform. Through these efforts, he brings a wealth of expertise to addressing the challenges and opportunities of faith formation in the modern world.
Patrick holds a degree in communications from the University of Tennessee, an MA in theology from the University of Notre Dame, and a doctorate in theology from La Salle University. Rooted in his faith and family, Patrick is married to Maureen Gross, and together they have four children. The family resides in Fairfield, Connecticut, and are active members of St. Anthony of Padua parish.