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PAGE 5 — The Georgia Bulletin, October 29, 1987
Remembering An Extraordinary Priest And Bishop
The Church in the archdiocese of Atlanta has sustained a
grievous loss with the death of the archbishop and those
who were his close friends and associates, as well as the
priests, religious, and faithful of the archdiocese, have my
deep and heartfelt sympathy.
Archbishop Donnellan was an extraordinary priest and
bishop who served God and the Church with exemplary
zeal, devotion, and competence, always mixed with good
humor and kindness. I will miss him, as will all those whose
lives he touched.
Cardinal Bernard Law
Archbishop of Boston
Archbishop Donnellan was a personal friend as well as a
churchman I greatly admired.
Most Reverend Francis T. Hurley
Archbishop of Anchorage
A lifelong friend. Archbishop Donnellan was truly a great
bishop and was filled with the spirit of the Lord. I shall miss
him very much. But there is the assurance that he will be
praying for me.
Cardinal John Joseph Carberry
Archbishop Emeritus of Saint Louis
He Shall Be Missed
It is with deepest regret that our Temple family and I ex
tend our deepest condolences to the Catholic archdiocese
on the death of Archbishop Donnellan. He shall be missed
by all whose lives that he touched. May his memory serve
as a source of strength and blessing to all.
Rabbi Alvin M. Sugarman
The Temple, Atlanta
During my tenure at the Southern Baptist Home Mission
Board in the Interfaith Witness Department, we met and
participated in various occasions together. He shall be sore
ly missed. Yet, we can give thanks to God for the gift of his
life while he walked and worked among us.
Richard W. Harmon
American Bible Society
Rome Synod Prevents
Cardinal From Attending
Among others sending telegrams to the arch
diocese were Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago,
who is in Rome as an elected delegate to the Synod on
the Laity and could not attend the funeral; Arch
bishop Daniel W. Kucera, O.S.B. of Dubuque. Iowa,
and Archbishop Francis W. Zayek, spiritual leader of
Maronite Catholics in the U.S. Messages of con
dolence were also received from Bishop Anthony J.
Bevilacqua of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Bishops Joseph
Brunini and William Houck of Jackson, Miss.; Aux
iliary Bishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Paul, Minn.;
Auxiliary Bishop Alvaro Corrada, S.J., of
Washington, D.C.; Bishop Joseph P. Delaney of Fort
Worth, Tex.; Bishop John C. Favalora of Alexandria,
La.; Bishop Norbert F. Gaughan of Gary, Ind.;
Bishop Timothy J. Harrington, of Worcester, Mass.;
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y.; Bishop
Joseph J. Madera of Fresno, Calif.; Bishops Joseph
T. O’Keefe and Thomas J. Costello of Syracuse, N. Y.;
Bishop John J. Sullivan of Kansas City, Mo.; Bishop
Thomas J. Welsh of Allentown, Pa. and Father Robert
F. Leavitt, S.S., president and rector of St. Mary’s
Seminary, Baltimore, Md.
Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan
1914 - 1987
News of the death of Archbishop Donnellan touched us
with sadness, but also, with peace. The assurance that he is
freed from his intense suffering and is enjoying full par
ticipation in a life that will never end is comforting. I am
confident his long years of effective leadership in the
Church, his life of devoted service to God’s people have
merited for him a blessed reward - intimacy with the One
he loved and honored. . .
Sister Mary Charlotte Barton
Superior General
Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart
We join with the thousands of Christians in Atlanta who
mourn the loss of the Most Rev. Thomas A. Donnellan,
archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta.
He was loved and respected by Protestants and Catholics
alike.
His influence will continue to be a force for good. Please
express to our brothers and sisters in the Atlanta Arch
diocese our concern. We shall keep you all in our prayers.
Arthur O'Neil, Jr.
Executive Director
Simpsonwood
On behalf of the staff of Northside Hospital I would like to
express my deepest sympathy over the death of Archbishop
Donnellan. He was such a kind and loving man and meant
so much to so many, and I am sure his ministry will be
missed very much.
Dan E. Keels, Jr.
Chaplain, Northside Hospital
Gifts He Shared
Over the years, it was my privilege to become acquainted
with Archbishop Donnellan and I found him to be a man
with a very strong pastoral sense and a desire to be of ser
vice to people. His commitment to the archdiocese of Atlan
ta and its ministry of service to the People of God were
tremendous gifts that he shared with countless people.
Most Reverend Thomas J. Murphy
Coadjutor Archbishop of Seattle
Archbishop Donnellan’s ministry was a great gift to the
Church in the United States and especially to the arch
diocese of Atlanta. I thank the Lord for this great man and
all his service.
Most Reverend William S. Skylstad
Bishop of Yakima, Wash.
I read of the death of my friend. Archbishop Tom Don
nellan, with mixed emotions. On the one hand the death of
one I have worked with so closely over the last five years on
the writing committee preparing the Pastoral Letter on the
Economy is a shock, and yet on the other hand I know that
he is happier now with the Lord after having been relieved
of his suffering.
Most Reverend Peter A. Rosazza
Auxiliary Bishop of Hartford
Archbishop Donnellan was a great man. He served the
Church of the United States, and especially the Church of
Atlanta so well. He will be sorely missed. May the Lord
bring comfort to your people during this time of sadness.
Most Reverend Arthur N. Tafoya
Bishop of Pueblo, Colo.
The archbishop was a true friend of the seminary and
made every effort to be present at our board meetings.
The Student Council of the seminary has sent a donation
of $100 of their own money to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Home in memory of the archbishop. This comes from the
students by their decision and because of the fond
memories many had of him when he was here to celebrate
the ministry of Lector in 1986.
Reverend Joseph L. Cunningham
President/Rector
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary
Boynton Beach, Fla.
The sympathy of the members of the New Orleans Pro
vince of the Society of Jesus is extended to the people of the
archdiocese of Atlanta on the occasion of the loss of Arch
bishop Donnellan. Our prayers for him and you will con
tinue. May he rest in peace.
Father Edmundo Rodriguez, S.J.
Provincial
Christian Shepherd
I had great admiration for Archbishop Donnellan. He
always went out of his way to be kind and solicitous, and I
thought that was a very special mark in his favor.
Most Reverend Joseph Hart
Bishop of Cheyenne
My sincere sympathy and condolences to the archdiocese
of Atlanta. Our church has lost a great shepherd, and I have
lost a good friend. ...I will remember Bishop Donnellan
most especially in prayer and at the Holy Mass. May he rest
in peace!
Most Reverend Robert F. Sanchez
Archbishop of Santa Fe
Atlanta has indeed lost a truly Christian shepherd, a lov
ing father to all his people, an inspiration to his brother
bishops. I feel a deep personal loss. Having worked with
him so closely on the economic pastoral, my respect and
love for this great man of God grew with the years. May he
now rest in the peace and love and joy of God.
Most Reverend Rembert G. Weakland
Archbishop of Milwaukee
Very much saddened by the death of dear Archbishop
Donnellan. We share in your sorrow in this great loss. We
offer you our sincere condolences, assure you of our
prayers for the repose of his soul. May his memory be
eternal.
Archbishop Joseph Tawil
Eparch of Melkite Rite in the United States
West Newton, Mass.
Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan’s life of dedicated ser
vice to God and to the Church has been an inspiration to all
who knew him. May the Good Shepherd reward him with
eternal happiness and everlasting joy he so richly deserves.
Archbishop Philip M. Hannan
New Orleans