Deceased Friars

Donald Mooney, OFM

Donald Mooney

1922 – 1981

Fr. Donald Mooney, OFM, was born on Aug. 29, 1922 in Albany, N.Y. In 1939, he enrolled at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., as a pre-seminary student.

He was received into the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., Aug. 12, 1941, and professed temporary vows Aug. 13, 1942. Fr. Donald made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 17, 1945, and was ordained a priest June 12, 1948.

His first assignment was to Siena College, where he taught religion and studied science. He spent one year at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y., and then returned to Siena to teach philosophy and religion until 1956, when he went on a six-year tour of duty as a chaplain with the United States Air Force.

He resumed teaching at Siena in 1961 and served as dean of men from 1964 to 1965. In 1957, Fr. Donald received his master’s degree in education from Siena, writing his thesis on “The History of Siena College from the Beginning to July of 1943.” He received a master’s degree in philosophy in 1972 and his doctorate from the State University of New York in 1980.

From 1966, Donald assisted at St. Edward’s Church in Clifton Park, N.Y., where he organized the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program for the parish.

He was a fine preacher and teacher with a workaholic devotion to duty. Fr. Donald died in his room in the newly opened friary at Siena on June 21, 1981. He was 58 years old, a professed friar for 38 years and a priest for 33 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Donald Mooney, OFM

Donald Mooney

1922 – 1981

Fr. Donald Mooney, OFM, was born on Aug. 29, 1922 in Albany, N.Y. In 1939, he enrolled at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., as a pre-seminary student.

He was received into the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., Aug. 12, 1941, and professed temporary vows Aug. 13, 1942. Fr. Donald made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 17, 1945, and was ordained a priest June 12, 1948.

His first assignment was to Siena College, where he taught religion and studied science. He spent one year at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y., and then returned to Siena to teach philosophy and religion until 1956, when he went on a six-year tour of duty as a chaplain with the United States Air Force.

He resumed teaching at Siena in 1961 and served as dean of men from 1964 to 1965. In 1957, Fr. Donald received his master’s degree in education from Siena, writing his thesis on “The History of Siena College from the Beginning to July of 1943.” He received a master’s degree in philosophy in 1972 and his doctorate from the State University of New York in 1980.

From 1966, Donald assisted at St. Edward’s Church in Clifton Park, N.Y., where he organized the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program for the parish.

He was a fine preacher and teacher with a workaholic devotion to duty. Fr. Donald died in his room in the newly opened friary at Siena on June 21, 1981. He was 58 years old, a professed friar for 38 years and a priest for 33 years.