Archbishop Kevin McDonald
Encyclopedia
Kevin John Patrick McDonald (b. 18 August 1947, Stoke-on-Trent
) is the Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark
, England
,.
He attended St. Joseph's College, Stoke-on-Trent
, the Christian Brothers' Grammar School from 1958-1965. He read Latin
at Birmingham University from 1965-1968.
In 1968 he was accepted as a student for the Archdiocese of Birmingham
and was ordained priest on 20 July 1974 in the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Chad in Birmingham. From 1976-1985 he was a lecturer in moral theology
at Oscott College and then became secretary at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
in Rome 1985-1993.
In 1993 he returned to England and became the Parish priest of English Martyrs, Sparkhill
until 1998. It was while in Sparkhill that McDonald developed his interest in inter-religious dialogue. From 1998 until 2001 he was Rector of Oscott seminary. McDonald was ordained the 11th Bishop of Northampton
on 2 May 2001 by Bishop Leo McCartie, assisted by Archbishops Patrick Kelly and Vincent Nichols.
. 8 December is the feast of the Immaculate Conception
, the patronal feast of the Archdiocese. After becoming Archbishop, McDonald suffered with ill health, spending a significant portion of 2008 on sick leave. Besides suffering from severe osteo-arthritis, the Archbishop underwent a triple heart bypass. He was rumoured to be Pope Benedict XVI's first choice to replace Cormac Murphy-O'Connor as Archbishop of Westminster. However, on 4 December 2009, following the announcement of Vincent Nichols as Archbishop of Westminster, Archbishop McDonald resigned his post on health grounds.
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
) is the Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark
Archdiocese of Southwark
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark is a Latin Rite Roman Catholic archdiocese in England. The Archepiscopal see is St. George's Cathedral, Southwark and is headed by the Archbishop of Southwark...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
,.
He attended St. Joseph's College, Stoke-on-Trent
St. Joseph's College, Stoke-on-Trent
St. Joseph’s College is a mixed Roman Catholic 11–18 school in Trent Vale, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. The school is based around a Grade II listed building which was previously a residential property before it was bought by the Christian Brothers in 1931.-History:The school was founded by...
, the Christian Brothers' Grammar School from 1958-1965. He read Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
at Birmingham University from 1965-1968.
In 1968 he was accepted as a student for the Archdiocese of Birmingham
Archdiocese of Birmingham
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham is one of the principal Latin-rite Catholic administrative divisions of England and Wales in the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church....
and was ordained priest on 20 July 1974 in the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Chad in Birmingham. From 1976-1985 he was a lecturer in moral theology
Moral theology
Moral theology is a systematic theological treatment of Christian ethics. It is usually taught on Divinity faculties as a part of the basic curriculum.- External links :*...
at Oscott College and then became secretary at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity origins are associated with the Second Vatican Council which met intermittently from 1962–1965.Pope John XXIII wanted the Catholic Church to engage in the contemporary ecumenical movement...
in Rome 1985-1993.
In 1993 he returned to England and became the Parish priest of English Martyrs, Sparkhill
Sparkhill
Sparkhill is an inner-city area of Birmingham, England, situated between Springfield, Hall Green and Sparkbrook.-Etymology:Sparkhill takes its name from Spark Brook, a small stream that flows from Moseley to the River Cole in Small Heath. It was, as the name suggests, a hill that was situated...
until 1998. It was while in Sparkhill that McDonald developed his interest in inter-religious dialogue. From 1998 until 2001 he was Rector of Oscott seminary. McDonald was ordained the 11th Bishop of Northampton
Bishop of Northampton
The Bishop of Northampton is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton in the Province of Westminster, England.The see is in the town of Northampton where the bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Our Lady and Saint Thomas of Canterbury.The current bishop is the Right...
on 2 May 2001 by Bishop Leo McCartie, assisted by Archbishops Patrick Kelly and Vincent Nichols.
Archbishop of Southwark
On 8 December 2003 McDonald was installed as Archbishop of SouthwarkArchbishop of Southwark
The Archbishop of Southwark is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark in England. As such he is the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Southwark....
. 8 December is the feast of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
, the patronal feast of the Archdiocese. After becoming Archbishop, McDonald suffered with ill health, spending a significant portion of 2008 on sick leave. Besides suffering from severe osteo-arthritis, the Archbishop underwent a triple heart bypass. He was rumoured to be Pope Benedict XVI's first choice to replace Cormac Murphy-O'Connor as Archbishop of Westminster. However, on 4 December 2009, following the announcement of Vincent Nichols as Archbishop of Westminster, Archbishop McDonald resigned his post on health grounds.