Deceased Friars

Neil MacDonald, OFM

Neil MacDonald

1914 – 1967

Fr. Neil MacDonald, OFM, was born in South Acton, Mass., on Nov. 21, 1914. Fr. Mathias Faust, OFM, received him into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Church, Paterson, N.J., on Aug. 12, 1936. He professed temporary vows Aug. 16, 1937, and made his profession of solemn vows on Sept. 17, 1940. Fr. Neil was ordained a priest in Washington, D.C., May 28, 1942.

After teaching philosophy and serving as assistant master of clerics at St. Stephen Friary in Croghan, N.Y., he went to Catholic University, Washington, D.C., to study moral theology. Fr. Neil completed his studies in 1950, and from 1951 to 1958, he was professor of theology at Christ the King Seminary in Allegany, N.Y.

Fr. Neil was guardian at St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, for six years. In 1964, he was assigned to Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., as spiritual director of the students. On May 12, Fr. Neil received word his father had died, and he returned to his family home in Olean, N.Y., for the wake and funeral.

He died suddenly on May 13, 1967. Fr. Neil and his father had a joint wake service in the friary parlor at St. Bonaventure where he had been guardian. He was 53 years old, a professed friar for 29 years and a priest for almost 25 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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Neil MacDonald, OFM

Neil MacDonald

1914 – 1967

Fr. Neil MacDonald, OFM, was born in South Acton, Mass., on Nov. 21, 1914. Fr. Mathias Faust, OFM, received him into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Church, Paterson, N.J., on Aug. 12, 1936. He professed temporary vows Aug. 16, 1937, and made his profession of solemn vows on Sept. 17, 1940. Fr. Neil was ordained a priest in Washington, D.C., May 28, 1942.

After teaching philosophy and serving as assistant master of clerics at St. Stephen Friary in Croghan, N.Y., he went to Catholic University, Washington, D.C., to study moral theology. Fr. Neil completed his studies in 1950, and from 1951 to 1958, he was professor of theology at Christ the King Seminary in Allegany, N.Y.

Fr. Neil was guardian at St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, for six years. In 1964, he was assigned to Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., as spiritual director of the students. On May 12, Fr. Neil received word his father had died, and he returned to his family home in Olean, N.Y., for the wake and funeral.

He died suddenly on May 13, 1967. Fr. Neil and his father had a joint wake service in the friary parlor at St. Bonaventure where he had been guardian. He was 53 years old, a professed friar for 29 years and a priest for almost 25 years.