Deceased Friars

Gabriel MacDonald, OFM

Gabriel MacDonald

1912 – 1976

Fr. Gabriel MacDonald, OFM, was born in Roxbury, Mass., on Jan. 16, 1912. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., and entered the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., Aug. 12, 1936, and professed temporary vows Aug. 16, 1937. Fr. Gabriel made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 17, 1940, and was ordained a priest in Washington, D.C., May 28, 1942.

He engaged in the ministry of reconciliation at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City until 1947, when he was transferred to St. Francis Retreat House in Brookline, Mass.

In 1950, Fr. Gabriel went to St. Patrick’s Parish in Buffalo, N.Y., for five years, and from 1955 to 1958, he served as vicar at St. Joseph Friary in Winsted, Conn. From 1958, until shortly before his death, he ministered at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston as a gentle confessor.

He died in Boston on June 16, 1976. Among his fellow friars, Fr. Gabriel was known as a quiet, calm, congenial man whose presence was genuinely appreciated. At the time of his death he was 64 years old, a professed friar for close to 39 years and a priest for 34 years.

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

Main Content

Gabriel MacDonald, OFM

Gabriel MacDonald

1912 – 1976

Fr. Gabriel MacDonald, OFM, was born in Roxbury, Mass., on Jan. 16, 1912. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., and entered the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J., Aug. 12, 1936, and professed temporary vows Aug. 16, 1937. Fr. Gabriel made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 17, 1940, and was ordained a priest in Washington, D.C., May 28, 1942.

He engaged in the ministry of reconciliation at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City until 1947, when he was transferred to St. Francis Retreat House in Brookline, Mass.

In 1950, Fr. Gabriel went to St. Patrick’s Parish in Buffalo, N.Y., for five years, and from 1955 to 1958, he served as vicar at St. Joseph Friary in Winsted, Conn. From 1958, until shortly before his death, he ministered at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston as a gentle confessor.

He died in Boston on June 16, 1976. Among his fellow friars, Fr. Gabriel was known as a quiet, calm, congenial man whose presence was genuinely appreciated. At the time of his death he was 64 years old, a professed friar for close to 39 years and a priest for 34 years.