Roman Catholic bishops from around the Southeast are expected at the funeral Thursday for Archbishop-Emeritus John Francis Donoghue of Atlanta.
The funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. after Donoghue’s body is moved by hearse from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at 353 Peachtree St. N.E. to the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta.
Donoghue, head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta from 1993 until his retirement in 2004, died Friday of respiratory failure, the archdiocese said. He was 83.
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, who succeeded Donoghue in 2005, said Thursday’s service will be full of “wonderful memories of this extraordinary gentle man, priest, bishop.”
“Each of us will hold personal memories of his devotion and goodness,” Gregory said in a statement Wednesday. “Each of us will praise God for sending him into our lives. It will be those personal recollections that will make the funeral liturgy for Archbishop Donoghue both different and comforting for each one in attendance.”
The Rev. Frank McNamee, rector at Cathedral of Christ the King, said the service will reflect the life and legacy of “a very simple man.”
“There’s a lot of work going on in preparing the place and beautifying the place,” McNamee said Wednesday. “There is a lot of preparation involved knowing that we will have 10 bishops and 200 priests, deacons, sisters and laity.”
The cathedral has seating for 600, and a nearby parish hall has additional seating for 400, McNamee said.
McNamee was ordained by Donoghue in 1995 in Ireland.
“He enjoyed good liturgy, and it will be a very solemn occasion,” the priest said.
Donoghue, born Aug. 9, 1928, was ordained to the priesthood in 1955. Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop of Charlotte in 1984. Nine years later, he was appointed to lead the Atlanta archdiocese after the death of Archbishop James P. Lyke in December 1992.
Donoghue was installed as Atlanta's fifth archbishop on Aug. 19, 1993, and for the next 11 years, he pushed for the construction of more Catholic schools and emphasized the importance of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, in the lives of Atlanta’s Catholics.
Ten Catholic schools were built under his leadership, including Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Our Lady of Mercy High School in Fayetteville, Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Johns Creek, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School in Kennesaw, and Queen of Angels Catholic School in Roswell.
Donoghue retired on Dec. 9, 2004, succeeded the following year by Gregory.
There are about 1 million Catholics in Georgia, according to archdiocese spokeswoman Patricia Chivers. About 850,000 are in metro Atlanta.
Gregory noted that whether for laity or clergy, the Catholic funeral liturgy varies little.
“There are a few special prayers for each group of individuals, but the standard ritual serves all of us – much like we all begin with the same baptismal ceremony,” Gregory said Wednesday. “However, in offering the funeral liturgy for Archbishop Donoghue, the Church’s prayers will be accompanied by many wonderful memories.”
Donoghue will be buried at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs.
About the Author
