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Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Vol. 25 No. 37
Thursday, October 22, 1987
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Archbishop Donnellan -1914 -1987
BY GRETCHEN REISER
Archbishop Thomas Andrew Donnellan, eulogized as a
bishop and priest who “understood clearly the true dimen
sion of priesthood as a life of service,” has ended his years
of earthly service to the archdiocese of Atlanta and the
Church he loved. —
“He spent his life as a servant pastor leading God’s peo
ple to fullness of life in Christ,” Bishop George Guilfoyle, a
boyhood friend of over 60 years said in his homily at the
Mass of the Resurrection Oct. 20. The archbishop, who
served the archdiocese for 19 years, died Oct. 15 at the age
of 73.
“Archbishop Thomas Donnellan was a true father, pastor
and shepherd, remaining near his flock in all its needs, and
above all in its need for God,” Bishop Guilfoyle said.
The Mass brought to a culmination four days of services
for Archbishop Donnellan, which began Friday night, Oct.
16, with Vespers and ended with the Mass concelebrated by
many bishops and all the priests of the archdiocese. The
archbishop was buried at Arlington Memorial Park in
Sandy Springs.
The Mass procession and gathering, as did other ser
vices, showed the great diversity of people in his flock and
their growing numbers. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. under a
blue autumn sky, the procession extended more than the
length of the Cathedral of Christ the King.
Behind the acolytes and lectors, sisters representing 21 of
the more than 30 religious communities serving in the arch
diocese stood in procession, followed by over 50 permanent
deacons in white, and about 180 priests. The principal
celebrant of the Mass, Archbishop Pio Laghi, Apostolic
Pro-Nuncio in the U.S., was joined by over 30 other bishops
from around the country, walking in procession behind the
priests.
The Cathedral was also filled with people from all walks
of life, parish groups, many other Religious, workers from
the offices at the Catholic Center, and students. Mayor An
drew Young of Atlanta was seated in the section with family
members, friends and special guests. Dr. Joseph Lowery of
the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and
Episcopal Bishop Charles J. Child, Jr. of Atlanta joined the
procession of clergymen.
The archbishop who came to Atlanta in 1968 as its second
archbishop, had as his motto “To serve, not to be served,”
and his friend and fellow bishop said that the motto “was
not chosen lightly.”
“From the beginning of his priestly ministry, Thomas
Donnellan grasped uniquely the genuine meaning that his
priestly vocation had both for himself and for people...With
the eyes of a courageous faith, he understood clearly the
true dimension of priesthood as a life of service as well as
the priceless nature of his calling by the Lord,” Bishop
Guilfoyle said.
’ “Initially, a loving heart responded to the invitation,
‘Follow me,’ and throughout his life, he reflected the light
and compassion of Christ, radiating His love. As priest and
bishop he always remained close to the one source of all
light, and I am certain that the people of New York,
Ogdensburg and Atlanta recognized his intimacy with
Christ by his great capacity to bring light and hope to so
many who suffered from darkness and despair.”
The bishop touched upon many facets of Archbishop Don-
nellan’s concern for others, as a friend, a fellow priest and a
bishop called upon to be faithful to the teachings of the
(Continued on page 2)
Thomas Andrew Donnellan, Second Archbishop of Atlanta
