Thomas Andrew Donnellan
Encyclopedia
Thomas Andrew Donnellan (January 24, 1914 - October 15, 1987) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church
, having served as the 9th Bishop of Ogdensberg
, New York
from 1964 to 1968, and the 2nd Archbishop of Atlanta from 1968 until his death in 1987.
in 1933, and was ordained to the priesthood by then-Archbishop of New York Francis Spellman on June 3, 1939. In 1942, Donnellan received a doctorate in Canon Law
from The Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
Upon graduation, Donnellan was appointed as assistant pastor of St. Patrick's Cathedral
in New York
, eventually becoming Cardinal Spellman's secretary in 1954. In 1962, Donnellan became the rector of St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York
.
In June 1954, Pope Pius XII
honored Fr. Donnellan by raising him the rank of Papal Chamberlain, with the title of Very Reverend Monsignor, and again in March 1958, when he named him a Domestic Prelate, with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. In December 1962, Pope John XXIII
elevated him to the rank of Prothonotary Apostolic.
in upstate New York four days later on April 13.
, Bishop Donnellan was appointed by Pope Paul VI
as the second Archbishop of Atlanta, and was installed on July 16. During his 19-year tenure, Donnellan guided the archdiocese through extensive growth, with the number of Catholics in North Georgia nearly tripling from 50,000 in 1968 to over 133,000.
With his tenure as head of a Southern archdiocese beginning in the wake of the assassination
of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
, Donnellan dealt with many issues regarding the civil rights movement
, most notably in January 1970, when he barred new enrollments in the archdiocese's Catholic schools as a gesture of support to the integration of local public school systems.
In 1984, Archbishop Donnellan was one of the co-authors of Economic Justice For All: Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy, which was unveiled at a meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and which urged a moral perspective in viewing the economy from the vantage point of the nation's poor.
By 1987, Archbishop Donnellan suffered from ill health due to a stroke which occurred that May, resulting in him convalescing until his death on October 15. His funeral was held at the archdiocese's mother church, Cathedral of Christ the King, and was attended by over 1,000 mourners, with then-Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in the U.S. Archbishop Pio Laghi as principal celebrant.
Archbishop Donnellan is buried at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs, Georgia
.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, having served as the 9th Bishop of Ogdensberg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in New York. It was founded on February 15, 1872.On February 23, 2010, the Most Reverend Terry R...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from 1964 to 1968, and the 2nd Archbishop of Atlanta from 1968 until his death in 1987.
Early life and ministry
The eldest of two children, Thomas Donnellan was born in 1914 in the Bronx, New York, to the late Andrew and Margaret (née Egan) Donnellan. After graduating from Regis High School in the Bronx in 1931, Donnellan entered St. Joseph's SeminarySt. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie
St. Joseph's Seminary and College, sometimes referred to as Dunwoodie, after the Yonkers, New York neighborhood it is located in, is the major seminary of the Archdiocese of New York. Its primary mission is to form men for the priesthood in the Catholic Church...
in 1933, and was ordained to the priesthood by then-Archbishop of New York Francis Spellman on June 3, 1939. In 1942, Donnellan received a doctorate in Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
from The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Upon graduation, Donnellan was appointed as assistant pastor of St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, eventually becoming Cardinal Spellman's secretary in 1954. In 1962, Donnellan became the rector of St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
.
In June 1954, Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
honored Fr. Donnellan by raising him the rank of Papal Chamberlain, with the title of Very Reverend Monsignor, and again in March 1958, when he named him a Domestic Prelate, with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. In December 1962, Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
elevated him to the rank of Prothonotary Apostolic.
Bishop of Ogdensberg
On April 9, 1964, Donnellan was consecrated as Bishop by Cardinal Spellman in St. Patrick's Cathedral, and subsequently installed as the ninth Bishop of OgdensburgRoman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in New York. It was founded on February 15, 1872.On February 23, 2010, the Most Reverend Terry R...
in upstate New York four days later on April 13.
Archbishop of Atlanta
On May 29, 1968, following the death of Archbishop Paul HallinanPaul John Hallinan
Paul John Hallinan was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Charleston and Archbishop of Atlanta . He was known as a champion of racial equality and liturgical reform.-Early life and education:Paul Hallinan was born in Painesville, Ohio, to Clarence C. and...
, Bishop Donnellan was appointed by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
as the second Archbishop of Atlanta, and was installed on July 16. During his 19-year tenure, Donnellan guided the archdiocese through extensive growth, with the number of Catholics in North Georgia nearly tripling from 50,000 in 1968 to over 133,000.
With his tenure as head of a Southern archdiocese beginning in the wake of the assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
, Donnellan dealt with many issues regarding the civil rights movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, most notably in January 1970, when he barred new enrollments in the archdiocese's Catholic schools as a gesture of support to the integration of local public school systems.
In 1984, Archbishop Donnellan was one of the co-authors of Economic Justice For All: Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy, which was unveiled at a meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and which urged a moral perspective in viewing the economy from the vantage point of the nation's poor.
By 1987, Archbishop Donnellan suffered from ill health due to a stroke which occurred that May, resulting in him convalescing until his death on October 15. His funeral was held at the archdiocese's mother church, Cathedral of Christ the King, and was attended by over 1,000 mourners, with then-Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in the U.S. Archbishop Pio Laghi as principal celebrant.
Archbishop Donnellan is buried at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs is a city in north Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. With a 2010 population of 93,853, Sandy Springs is the sixth-largest city in the state and the second-largest city in Metro Atlanta. Sandy Springs is located in north Fulton County, Georgia, just south of...
.