New Ordinary Pledges Support Of Rights, Poor, Ecumenism

Bishop Thomas Andrew Donnellan of Ogdensburg, NY, appointed Archbishop of Atlanta Wednesday, has pledged to work for civil rights, for the poor, for ecumenical progress and for liturgical excellence.

His comments came in statement to the Georgia Bulletin after his appointment as the second Archbishop of Atlanta was announced by Pope Paul VI. He succeeds Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan who died March 27, 1968.

Bishop Donnellan, a 54 year old native of New York City said:

“On the occasion of my appointment as Archbishop of Atlanta, I offer my gratitude to Pope Paul VI for the confidence he has placed in me by naming me to take up the work so gloriously done by the first Archbishop of Atlanta, Archbishop Hallinan.” As an archdiocese, Atlanta has been distinguished for its leadership in matters of civil rights, concern for the poor, ecumenical progress and liturgical excellence.” “I pledge myself to the continuation of this work in cooperation with the priests, religious and faithful of the archdiocese, with the religious leaders of other churches and with all of the citizens of the great state of Georgia.” “I ask of all the favor of their prayers that I may be a good bishop and a true shepherd.”

The installation date of Archbishop-elect Donnellan has not been set. Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin, general secretary of the United States Catholic Conference and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, will continue to serve as administrator until the installation.

Bishop Donnellan served as chairman of the ad hoc committee which did the report establishing an arbitration service to help settle disputes between dioceses, religious orders or organizations within the Church. The service was approved by the NCCB at its recent meeting in St. Louis.

He also has served on a special committee of bishops which has reported to Rome on the dispute between the Immaculate Heart of Mary nuns and James Francis Cardinal McIntyre of Los Angeles.

Bishop Donnellan, born in New York City, Jan. 24, 1914, studied for the priesthood at Cathedral College, New York, and St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY. He was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 1939, by Francis Cardinal Spellman at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Following ordination, he studied at Catholic University of American and earned a doctorate in canon law. He then served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York, including the cathedral parish.

Bishop Donnellan was named assistant chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York in 1944; vice chancellor in 1954; and chancellor in 1958. He was a synod judge in 1950, secretary to Cardinal Spellman in 1954, and archdiocesan director of vocations in 1957.

Bishop Donnellan became rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, his alma mater, in 1962 and was serving in that capacity when he was named the ninth bishop of Ogdensburg in March, 1964.

He was consecrated in St. Patrick’s Cathedral April 9, 1964, by Cardinal Spellman. Bishop Christopher J. Weldon of Springfield, Mass., and Auxiliary Bishop John J. Maguire of New York were the co-consecrators.

He was installed in the Ogdensburg See April 13, 1964.

The Ogdensburg Diocese has 175 diocesan priests and a Catholic population of 165,987 out of a total population of 388,886. The diocese has 118 parishes, 42 missions, and has 47,493 students enrolled in Catholic schools.

In announcing the appointment of Bishop Donnellan, Pope Paul VI also appointed auxiliary Bishop Clarence E. Elwell of Cleveland to be bishop of Columbus, Ohio. He succeeds Archbishop John J. Carberry, recently named archbishop of St. Louis.