 Please pray for the soul of our dearly beloved retired associate. On December 21, 2009, the Reverend Monsignor Colin A. MacDonald was called to his rest and to the glory of the Resurrection promised by the Lord. He was 89 years old. Monsignor MacDonald was born on June 21, 1920 in Heatherton, Nova Scotia and was ordained a priest on December 7, 1945 by the Most Reverend Matthew F. Brady, D.D., fifth Bishop of Manchester, at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Manchester. Monsignor MacDonald studied at Saint Anselm College, Manchester and then he completed his ecclesiastical studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, MD. He held an A.B. from St. Anselm College and an S.T.D.
Monsignor MacDonald’s first assignment was as Chaplain at Saint Charles Orphanage, Rochester in December, 1945. He was assigned as associate pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Claremont in September, 1946 and then as associate pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Littleton in June, 1947. In June, 1950, Monsignor MacDonald was assigned as associate pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Laconia and then in August, 1951 as associate pastor of Saint Joseph Cathedral Parish in Manchester. In 1951 he also served as Assistant CYO Director and in 1956 he became Diocesan Director of CYO activities. In November, 1960 he resigned as Assistant at the Cathedral to serve as Master of Ceremonies to Bishop Primeau with residence at Saint Joseph Cathedral.
There are three levels of monsignoral titles and on March 17, 1962, Father MacDonald was given the first rank of Papal Chamberlain. He was later elevated to Domestic Prelate on December 16, 1966 which translates to Prelate of Honor to His Holiness.
In November, 1966, Bishop Primeau appointed Monsignor MacDonald as pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Manchester. He served as Priest Auditor, World Synod of Bishops – one of five diocesan priests nominated – in August 1971. In December, 1971, he was appointed Executive Director of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry in Washington, DC. In December, 1972, he resigned his pastorate at Saint Patrick Parish, Manchester. He became Executive Director, Committee on Priestly life & Ministry, NCCB in Washington in April, 1974. He retired from active ministry in February, 1988.
Among the many Diocesan and National boards he served were: the Diocesan Board of Education; the Diocesan Commission on Vocations; Coordinator, Campaign for Funds, Immaculata High School; Chairman, Communications, Diocesan Synod; Diocesan Liturgical Commission; Secretary, 6 Month Jubilee (Pope Paul VI); President, Senate of Priests; Diocesan Consultor; Founding Delegate of N.E. Conference of Priests Senate; Member, Catholic Charities Board of Trustees; Boston Provincial Delegate, Executive Board, National Federation of Priests Councils; Founding Vice-President, National Federation of Priests Councils; Charter Member, NCCB-USCC Advisory Council; Member, Steering Committee for Feasibility Study of National Pastoral Council in the U.S.; Diocesan Christian Formation Commission; Representative of NCCB to Meeting of Priests Councils of Europe in Rome; Council of Priests, Manchester East Deanery for three years beginning in September, 1994. He also served on the Advisory Council, N.H. State Board of Probation and Chaplain, Manchester Police Department.
On Sunday, December 27, 2009, a wake will be held at Saint Joseph Cathedral from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. The Rite of Reception of the Body will take place at Saint Joseph Cathedral Parish in Manchester at 2:30 p.m. Monsignor MacDonald will lie in state in the church until 4:30 p.m., concluding with Solemn Vespers.
The Most Reverend John B. McCormack, Bishop of Manchester, will preside at a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Joseph Cathedral on Monday, December 28, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. The Rite of Committal will be immediately after the Mass at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Bedford, New Hampshire. The Connor-Healey Funeral Home & Cremation Center at 537 Union Street, Manchester, New Hampshire has care of the arrangements.
With faith and hope in eternal life, let us commend our brother to the love and mercy of God and assist him with our prayers. The statutes of the Diocese of Manchester request that we offer three Masses for the repose of his soul. |
