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Timothy A. McDonnell

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Timothy Anthony McDonnell
Bishop Emeritus of Springfield in Massachusetts
ArchdioceseBoston
DioceseSpringfield in Massachusetts
AppointedMarch 9, 2004
InstalledApril 1, 2004
RetiredJune 19, 2014
PredecessorThomas Ludger Dupré
SuccessorMitchell T. Rozanski
Previous post(s)
Orders
OrdinationJune 1, 1963
by Francis Spellman
ConsecrationDecember 12, 2001
by Edward Egan, Henry J. Mansell, and Robert Anthony Brucato
Personal details
Born (1937-12-23) December 23, 1937 (age 86)
New York City
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
ParentsJohn J. McDonnell
Margaret Looney McDonnell
Alma materSaint John's Seminary
Iona College
MottoLove God and love neighbor
Styles of
Timothy Anthony McDonnell
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Timothy Anthony McDonnell (born December 23, 1937) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. McDonnell served as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts from 2004 to 2014 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 2001 to 2004.

Biography

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Early life and education

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Timothy McDonnell was born on December 23, 1937, in New York City to John J. and Margaret (née Looney) McDonnell, both from County Cork, Ireland.[1] The eldest of two children, he has a younger brother, John McDonnell, who was a member of the Marist Brothers and served as vice-provincial of the United States Province.[2] Their father was a dockworker for Standard Oil Corporation in Brooklyn and later owned a gas station in the Bronx.[3]

Timothy McDonnell attended parochial schools in the Bronx and was inspired by his great-uncle to pursue a vocation to the priesthood.[1][3] He then studied at Cathedral College in Queens, New York, and St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York, where he obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1959.[2]

Ordination and ministry

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On June 1, 1963, McDonnell was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York by Cardinal Francis Spellman at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan.[4]

After his ordination, McDonnell served as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Ardsley, New York, and as a teacher at Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale, New York until 1969. McDonnell earned a Master of Education in pastoral counseling degree from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, in 1970.[2]

From 1970 to 1977, McDonnell was assistant director of the archdiocesan Office for Christian and Family Development, while also serving as a chaplain at Cardinal McCloskey School and Home for Children in White Plains, New York. He was then named director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1977, vice-chancellor for the archdiocese in 1980, and monsignor by the Vatican in 1983.[2]

From 1984 to 1990, McDonnell served as pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Manhattan. He briefly served as episcopal vicar of the West Manhattan area (1989–1990). In 1990, he became chief operating officer of the archdiocesan chapter of Catholic Charities. He was also assigned to help run Covenant House in Manhattan following the resignation of its president, Reverend Bruce Ritter.[1]

In 1993, McDonnell became pastor of St. John and St. Mary Parish in Chappaqua, New York, serving there until 2002. While in Chappaqua, he oversaw a major renovation construction project at the church.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of New York

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On October 30, 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed McDonnell as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York and titular bishop of Semina.[4] He was consecrated on December 12, 2001, by Cardinal Edward Egan, with Bishops Henry J. Mansell and Robert Brucato serving as co-consecrators, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan.[4] McDonnell selected as his episcopal motto: "Love God and Love Neighbor."[5]

In addition to his duties as an auxiliary bishop, McDonnell served as vicar general of the archdiocese from 2002 to 2004.[2] In May 2003, McDonnell reported to the archdiocesan priests council on the reorganization and possible consolidation of parishes within the archdiocese.[6]

Bishop of Springfield

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On March 9, 2004, John Paul II named McDonnell as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Springfield. He was installed on April 1, 2004, at St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield.[4] McDonnell has presided over a number of historic church closings and sales in the diocese.[7]

On May 13, 2004, McDonnell liquidated a fund designed to help priests accused of sexual misconduct. The fund had been set up by then Bishop Thomas Dupré in late 2003. The existence of the fund had provoked conflict between McDonnell and one of his parish priests, James Scahill. Scahill had been withholding part of the parish collection to protest continued diocese support of Reverend Richard Lavigne, who had been convicted of child molestation in 1992. During a heated exchange at a council meeting in May 2004, McDonnell accused Scahill of calling him a "Vatican lackey". When Scahill denied it, McDonnell said that he was worse than Lavigne and dismissed him from the meeting[8][9]

A few days after his installation, McDonnell had met with a mediator about settling several sexual abuse lawsuits against the diocese. On July 23, 2004, the diocese announced a $7 million settlement with 46 victims of child sexual abuse, many of whom had been molested by Levigne.[10] By September, 2004, McDonnell and Scahill had reconciled their differences and performed mass together at Scahill's church. During the service, McDonnell apologized to Scahill for his remarks from the May 2004 council meeting.[11]

On October 31, 2006, McDonnell signed a letter with the other Catholic bishops of Massachusetts urging support for a proposed amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution to ban same sex marriage.[12]

Retirement

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On June 19, 2014, Pope Francis accepted McDonnell's letter of resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Bishop Timothy McDonnell Named Eighth Bishop of Springfield". Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 2009-09-28.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Biography of Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell". Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 2007-03-21.
  3. ^ a b McDONNELL, CLAUDIA. "For Bishop McDonnell, the archdiocese and its people reflect the universal Church". Catholic New York. Archived from the original on 2007-10-27.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Bishop Timothy Anthony McDonnell". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  5. ^ "The Coat of Arms of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy Anthony McDonnell, D.D." Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 2009-09-29.
  6. ^ Wakin, Daniel J. (2003-07-01). "A Church's Fate, a Diocese's Plight; New York Catholics Reassess Where Parishes Should Be". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  7. ^ Northampton Media: "Sacred Heart Church Development Gets City OK. (Eventually)" April 16, 2011
  8. ^ "Bishop dissolves fund for priests - The Boston Globe". archive.boston.com. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  9. ^ Fleming, E. J. (2018-04-04). Death of an Altar Boy: The Unsolved Murder of Danny Croteau and the Culture of Abuse in the Catholic Church. Exposit. ISBN 978-1-4766-7345-5.
  10. ^ Trudy Tynan. "Springfield Diocese reaches settlement". seacoastonline.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  11. ^ CNA. "Bishop seeks reconciliation with sex-abuse victims, pastor". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  12. ^ "Bishops push Catholics to demand vote to bar gay marriage - The Boston Globe". archive.boston.com. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
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Episcopal succession

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
–
 Bishop Emeritus of Springfield in Massachusetts
2014–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Bishop of Springfield in Massachusetts
2004–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
–
 Auxiliary Bishop of New York
2001–2004 		Succeeded by
–
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