Alexander MacDonald (vicar apostolic)
Encyclopedia
Alexander MacDonald was a Roman Catholic bishop
who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Highland District, Scotland.
Born in Bornish, South Uist
in 1736, he was ordained
a priest
on 10 August 1764. He was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of the Highland District and Titular Bishop
of Polemonium by the Holy See
on 30 September 1779. He was consecrated
to the Episcopate
on 12 March 1780. The principal consecrator
was Bishop George Hay
, and the principal co-consecrator was Bishop Alexander Cameron
. He died in office on 9 September 1791, aged 55.
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Highland District, Scotland.
Born in Bornish, South Uist
South Uist
South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The...
in 1736, he was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 10 August 1764. He was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of the Highland District and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Polemonium by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
on 30 September 1779. He was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
to the Episcopate
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
on 12 March 1780. The principal consecrator
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
was Bishop George Hay
George Hay (bishop)
George Hay was a Roman Catholic bishop and writer who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District in Scotland from 1778 to 1805....
, and the principal co-consecrator was Bishop Alexander Cameron
Alexander Cameron (bishop)
Alexander Cameron was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District, Scotland.Born in Braemar, Aberdeenshire on 28 July 1747, he was the son of James Cameron and Margery Macktinosh. He entered the Scots College in Rome on 22 December 1764, and took the oath...
. He died in office on 9 September 1791, aged 55.