Canon Macdonald was born in Greenock on 6th March, 1887. He was educated at St. Mary's School in that town and later he proceeded to St. Mungo's Academy, Glasgow, and to St. Mary's College at Blairs, to begin his studies for the priesthood. Having completed his preliminary studies at Blairs, he went on to continue his philosophical and theological studies at Issy and at the new Sulpician Seminary in Paris. He was ordained priest in Paris on 28th June, 1913, by Cardinal Amette, Archbishop of Paris.
Returning home to Scotland, he served as curate in the parishes of St. Charles and St. Columba, in Glasgow, and his first appointment as parish priest was at St. Patrick's, Strathaven. This was followed by a period as parish priest of St. Charles', Newton, and eventually in 1940, he became parish priest of St. Augustine's, Langloan, where he was to spend almost half of his priestly life, and there he was to die, on 16th October, 1963, a few months after he had celebrated the golden jubilee of his ordination.
His devotion to duty was constant and steadfast. The care of souls was his principal concern and his singleness of purpose in every activity of his priestly life set a pattern of perfection to his fellow priests. The regard in which he was held by his flock was the outcome of his personal asceticism and his gentle kindliness to all comers. The crowds which knelt outside his confessional and the affection in which he was held by the children of the parish showed how his parishioners, young and old, acknowledged his wisdom and compassion and charity.
Canon Macdonald's excellent qualities were known and appreciated widely in the West of Scotland because he had been a Religious Examiner of Schools in the Archdiocese of Glasgow before the setting up of the Province of Glasgow. When the new Diocese of Motherwell came into being, Canon Macdonald was appointed to the Cathedral Chapter of Motherwell and he became Chief Inspector of Religious Education for the new diocese: in this sphere he became even better known and even more affectionately respected by teachers and pupils alike.
The Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Augustine's, Langloan, on Friday, 18th October, 1963, by the Right Rev. Monsignor John Conroy, V.G. (taking the place of His Lordship, Bishop Scanlan, who was in Rome for the Ecumenical Council) and the crowded congregation included many canons and priests from Motherwell and neighbouring dioceses and people from the various parishes in which Canon Macdonald had served. In a moving tribute Monsignor Conroy echoed the feelings of all who had known the canon as pastor or as fellow priest. Schoolchildren and hundreds of parishioners of St. Augustine's, Langloan, lined the streets in prayer as the funeral cortege set out for St. Patrick's Cemetery, New Stevenston, where Canon Macdonald is buried. May he rest in peace. |
