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 will serve the diocese in the role of Coadjutor Bishop until the time of Bishop Warfel’s resignation (required of Bishops at the age of 75) or death.
