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Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta Vol. 25 No. 37 Thursday, October 22, 1987 $12.00 Per Year 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