Ignatius Donoghue, OFM

1913 – 1989

Fr. Ignatius Donoghue, OFM, was born on Jan. 4, 1913 in Springfield, Mass. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1940, professing temporary vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1944 and was ordained in 1946.

At the time of his ordination, Fr. Ignatius volunteered for the missions in China and South America. He was assigned to St. Bonaventure Friary as Provincial assistant to the Secular Franciscans, and in 1949, went to Holy Name College as assistant cleric master.

In 1953, he went to Brazil. After one year in the seminary there, he was appointed pastor at Catalão, where he served for seven years. In 1961, he became pastor in Pires do Rio, and in 1966, he was appointed guardian of St. Francis Friary in Anapolis. Fr. Ignatius served as councilor of the custody there from 1967 to 1970, and was pastor in Cristalândia from 1968 to 1971. From 1971 to 1984, he ministered as pastor in Araguacema, a remote corner of Goiás known for bats and piranha. He was named assistant novice director in 1985. He returned to the United States in 1989 due to illness.

He died on Dec. 30, 1989 at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston. Fr. Ignatius was 76 years old, a professed friar for 48 years and a priest for 43 years.