Most Reverend William J. McDonald |
|
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Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco | |
Church | Catholic Church |
See | Titular See of Aquae Regiae |
Appointed | March 17, 1964 |
In office | July 26, 1967 - June 5, 1979 |
Orders | |
Ordination | June 10, 1928 |
Consecration | May 19, 1964 by Egidio Vagnozzi |
Personal details | |
Born | June 17, 1904 Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
Died | January 7, 1989 San Francisco, California |
(aged 84)
Previous post | Auxiliary Bishop of Washington (1964-1967) |
William Joseph McDonald (June 17, 1904 – January 7, 1989) was an Irish-born bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1964-1967 and the Archdiocese of San Francisco from 1967-1979.
William McDonald was born in the city of Kilkenny in County Kilkenny, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He trained for the priesthood in St Kieran's College, Kilkenny and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco on June 10, 1928 and served as a parish priest before entering the academic field. He received a master's degree and then doctorate from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. where he remained as a professor. From 1957-1967 he served as Rector of CUA, the last person to hold that title before it was changed to president. From 1960-1963 McDonald served as president of the International Federation of Catholic Universities and editor of the New Catholic Encyclopedia.
On March 17, 1964 Pope Paul VI appointed him as the Titular Bishop of Aquae Regiae and Auxiliary Bishop of Washington. He was consecrated a bishop by Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, on May 19, 1964. The principal co-consecrators were Archbishops Patrick O'Boyle of Washington and Joseph McGucken of San Francisco. McDonald attended the third and fourth sessions of the Second Vatican Council in 1964 and 1965. Three years after his episcopal consecration Pope Paul appointed him to be an auxiliary bishop in San Francisco.