By Michael Motes

(Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles examining the careers of priests of the Church in Georgia who have become United States Bishops.)

As the Nation celebrated Independence Day with the usual array of fireworks, parades and bar-be-cues, news reached Savannah that brought about a different type of festive atmosphere.

Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, Apostolic Delegate in the United States, had sent the official degree from Pope Paul VI that Savannah native Monsignor Andrew Joseph McDonald had been named to succeed retiring Bishop Albert Fletcher as Bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas. The date of the announcement was July 4, 1972.

The bishop-elect became the second native-born Georgian to reach the episcopacy, Bishop James Augustine Healy having been named to Portland, Maine, nearly 100 years before.

Born October 24, 1923, Andrew was one of 12 children of James Bernard and Theresa (McGrael) McDonald. Of the large family, five were destined to lives in the service of the Church.

Following his graduation from the Marist School for Boys in Savannah, the young man was enrolled in St. Charles College, Catonsville, Maryland, to complete his high school and junior college education.

After finishing philosophy studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, where he received his B.A. degree, he pursued Theological studies and graduated with a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from St. Mary's Seminary in Roland Park, Maryland, in 1948.

Ordained By Bishop Walsh

The Reverend Mr. McDonald returned to Georgia's Port City to be ordained to the priesthood by the late Bishop Emmet Walsh on May 8, 1948. Three years of additional education followed at the Catholic University of America and the Lateran University in Rome, from which Father McDonald earned his Doctorate in Canon Law in 1951.

The following year was a busy one for Father McDonald. He was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of Savannah, Vice-Officialis of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal and Curate of Port Wentworth.

He was named a Papal Chamberlain with the title of Very Reverend Monsignor in 1956 and in 1959 was made a Domestic Prelate with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor.

Among the many assignments Monsignor McDonald held in his native diocese were Sub-Vicar for the Military Ordinariate; Diocesan Consultor; Spiritual Director of St. John Vianney Minor Seminary; Diocesan Comptroller; Dean of the Savannah Deanery and a member of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, Building Commission, Finance Board, Pastoral Council and Clergy Welfare Board.

In 1963, he was appointed pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish and four years later became Vicar General of his diocese. At the time of his appointment as Bishop of Little Rock, he was also serving as a board member of both the Savannah Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Federal Court-appointed Savannah Bi-Racial Committee.

In his first public statement as Bishop-Elect, the Vicar General said, "I have accepted the wish of the Holy Father as the will of God Himself. My heart overflows with joy at the prospect of sharing in the fullness of the powers Christ gave to the original apostles. I am grateful to God as He continues to confound the strong of the world by the choice of the weak. To our Holy Father, I re-affirm my loyalty, my love and my devotion.

Moving Statement

Monsignor McDonald, in a moving statement in his diocesan newspaper, The Southern Cross, reminisced on his life and his priestly career. On July 6, 1972, two days after the formal announcement from the Vatican, he wrote:

"On this day in my life, I return thanks to God for my good Mother and Father of happy memory, my good brothers and sisters. My parents were shining examples of faith and courage; my brothers and sisters by prayer and example have sustained me in my work as a priest.

"On this day, my mind goes back over twenty-four years of work in this Diocese -- to the wonderful association with bishops, priests, sisters and laity. Without hesitation, I single out the people of Blessed Sacrament Parish. For nine years, I have been their pastor and they have been my people. Their spirit of prayer, their quick response to the needs of others have been a source of inspiration to me. They have made these happy and fruitful years of my life.

"…As I look to the future, I offer myself, all my talent, my energy, my life to the honor and glory of God and to the service of the good citizens of Arkansas."

"Well Qualified" For High Office

Bishop Gerard L. Frey, then of Savannah, now of Lafayette, Louisiana, expressed his pleasure in the appointment:

"I am very pleased that Pope Paul VI has seen fit to honor one of Savannah's native sons by naming him Bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock. Having worked with Monsignor McDonald since my coming to Savannah in 1967, I know that he is very well qualified to fill the high office for which he was chosen.

"Since his ordination in 1948, Monsignor McDonald has faithfully served the Diocese of Savannah in many capacities and has given ample evidence of his pastoral zeal and innate ability."

On September 5, 1972, more than 1,000 laypeople, Religious, clergy, abbots, bishops and archbishops crowded Savannah's Cathedral of St. John the Baptist to witness the ordination of the fifth Bishop of Little Rock.

The principal consecrator was Archbishop Thomas J. McDonough of Louisville, a former Bishop of Savannah, who was assisted by Archbishop Philip M. Hannon of New Orleans and Bishop Frey. Twenty other abbots and bishops also participated in the ceremony, including Archbishop Donnellan of Atlanta and Abbot Dom Augustine Moore of Conyers.

Following the opening rituals, the mandate from Rome which appointed Monsignor McDonald to the episcopacy was read by Father Joseph Ware of Atlanta, a long-time friend with whom the bishop-elect had been ordained in the same Cathedral nearly a quarter of a century before. Then, as a sign of consent and approval of the entire community, the congregation burst into applause.

Can 'Terrify A Mortal Man'

The office of bishop had been termed a duty that "can well terrify a mortal man" at a reception in Monsignor McDonald's honor shortly before his ordination. Monsignor John Lyness, then pastor of St. Patrick's parish in Cumberland, Maryland, and another long-time friend, had delivered the major address at the farewell gathering.

Now, as a bishop, Andrew McDonald was to admit his initial reaction to his appointment had indeed been fright. Addressing his congregation on September 7, 1972, the day of his installation, Bishop McDonald said:

"Last June, it became known to me that Our Holy Father was to appoint me the Bishop of Little Rock. At first, like the prophets of old, I was frightened. Then, I went through great mental gymnastics. Anything I read or hear which seemed 'intellectual,' 'striking,' 'something that a bishop should say or stand for' -- I noted it. When the appointment became public, I was going to be ready, I would be ready. I would impress. I would make my mark.

"For your sake and mine, all these ideas subsided. Since you will discover the truth about me anyway, I thought I'd better tell it to you 'like it is.' An intellectual giant is not standing before you; an intrepid leader of men is not addressing you; a bulwark or virtue is not hidden beneath this miter. Upon searching my soul, I find no qualifications to be your bishop other than the call of God. I leave myself open this day to the Holy Spirit and pray that I hinder Him not in His work among you."

'I Care … I Love'

"There is only one sentiment I bear in my heart today. This sentiment is so overwhelming, it almost hurts my heart. It is simple but I mean it: My priests, my religious, my sisters, my people, tall and short; fat and skinny; black and white; of all denominations, of all walks of life in beautiful Arkansas -- I love you; I do care. With God's help I will live and if necessary I will die to prove that I care, to prove that I love …"

For almost six years, one of "Georgia's Bishops" has been showing that he cares and proving his love to those of the Diocese of Little Rock.

One of Bishop McDonald's latest appointments was made last January when he was assigned to the Communications Committee of the United States Catholic Conference

We are indebted to Sister Mary James McDonald, CSJ, of Savannah, the bishop's sister, for the loss of the personal family photographs which accompany this article, and to The Southern Cross for background information.