Moments mark Bishop McDonald's career

Notable dates in Bishop McDonald's 40 years since being ordained a bishop

1972

Sept. 5: Ordained a bishop at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Ga.

Sept. 7: Installed as bishop at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock

 

1973

January: Called on Arkansans to pray after U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion

 

1974

January: On first anniversary of Roe vs. Wade decision, issued "affirmation in behalf of life"

 

1975

May: Welcomed Vietnamese refugees to Fort Chaffee and asked Catholics to donate rosaries and medals to them

 

1977

January: Celebrated fourth anniversary of Roe vs. Wade decision with Pontifical Respect for Life Mass at the Cathedral of St. Andrew

June: Introduced permanent diaconate program to diocese

 

1978

Issued pro-life pastoral, five years after Roe vs. Wade

 

1980

April: Hosted Vocations Day and asked parishes to pray for vocations and host events to ask youth to consider vocations

May: Supported Cuban refugees resettled at Fort Chaffee

 

1981

Nov. 7: Ordained 21 men to the diaconate at the Cathedral of St. Andrew. It was the first ordination of deacons in the diocese since the permanent diaconate was restored by Vatican Council II.

 

1982

June: Asked Missionaries of Charity to come to Little Rock to operate Abba House, a home for unwed mothers, and hosted Blessed Mother Teresa during her visit

 

1983

May: Asked parishes to study bishops' pastoral called "The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response"

August: Began dialogue with black Catholics through the Diocesan Council for Black Catholics

 

1984

September: Launched a national spiritual revitalization program in the parishes called Renew

 

1985

October: Celebrated Renew Mass for 4,000 Catholics at the Statehouse Convention Center

 

1986

March: Ushered in a name change for The Guardian. The diocesan newspaper would now be known as Arkansas Catholic.

 

1987

January: Issued statement opposing death penalty

September: Led a group to New Orleans to see Pope John Paul II

 

1988

May 28: Ordained first black priest, Father Warren Harvey, for the Diocese of Little Rock

 

1991

Oct 5: Celebrated Mass for first Encuentro for Hispanics to celebrate their faith

 

1992

September: Issued diocese's pedophilia policy for employees

 

1993

Nov. 27: Opened diocese's sesquicentennial year

 

1994

April: Following approval from the Vatican and U.S. bishops, allowed girls to be altar servers

November: Celebrated closing of sesquicentennial year with a Mass at the Statehouse Convention Center for 5,000

 

1995

March: Played in the first Bishop McDonald Golf Tournament to benefit Catholic Charities

Nov. 5: Celebrated sesquicentennial of Cathedral of St. Andrew with dedication of McDonald Hall

 

1996

January: Issued pastoral called "Immigrants in Our Midst" to coincide with World Migration Day

September: Supported establishment of diocese's first theology program

 

1998

May: Observed 50th anniversary as a priest with a Mass and reception for his seminary classmates

October: Celebrated a Mass for his 75th birthday with 3,000 Catholics at the Statehouse Convention Center and turned in his resignation as bishop as required by canon law. Bronze doors on the cathedral were installed as a birthday gift.

 

1999

January: Had emergency open heart surgery and missed Mass for Life and pilgrimage to St. Louis to meet Pope John Paul II

 

2000

Jan. 4: Resignation accepted by pope with the announcement that Father J. Peter Sartain would be the new bishop

 

2002

April: Said farewell to diocese and moved to the St. Joseph Home for the Elderly in Palatine, Ill., to be the chaplain

 

2004

March: During Savannah's St. Patrick's Day Parade, stood by his friend Father Joseph Ware who was the grand marshal

 

2006

November: Celebrated Mass in Little Rock with members of diocese's first diaconate class for their 25th anniversary

 

2008

September: Celebrated 60th anniversary as a priest with Mass in Little Rock

 

2010

June: Dedicated new building at St. John Center called The McDonald Center. The building, where his office was formerly located, is used by Catholic Charities.

 

2011

October: Celebrated 88th birthday with a cake during Arkansas Catholic's centennial reception

 

Click here for the Bishop McDonald special issue index.

 

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