James Robert Hoffman

Who was James Robert Hoffman?

James Robert Hoffman was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Toledo from 1981 until his death in 2003.

Hoffman was born in Fremont, Ohio, and studied at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana and St. Mary Seminary in Northwood, Ohio. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 28, 1957. He then served as a curate at St. Peter's Church in Mansfield, St. Joseph's Church in Marblehead, and Blessed Sacrament Church in Toledo.

In 1966 he earned a Licentiate of Canon Law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Hoffman was later named secretary to Bishop John Anthony Donovan and chancellor of the Diocese of Toledo. In addition to these duties, he also served as pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Sylvania.

On April 18, 1978, Hoffman was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Toledo and Titular Bishop of Italica by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal ordination on the following June 23 from Bishop Donovan, with Archbishop Joseph Bernardin and Bishop Albert Henry Ottenweller serving as co-consecrators. He selected as his episcopal motto: "Omnia Omnibus", meaning, "All things to all men".