John MacDonald (bishop of Aberdeen)
Encyclopedia
John MacDonald was a Scottish
clergyman who served as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Aberdeen
from 1878 to 1889.
on 2 July 1818, he was the son William MacDonald and Harriet MacDonald (née Fraser). His early education was at the local school, before being sent to the Scots Seminary
in Ratisbon in 1830, where he remained there for the next seven years. On 6 June 1837, he entered the Scots College
in Rome
, and took the oath
there on 22 April 1838.
a subdeacon
in the chapel of the Congregation of the Nobles, at the Gesù
, on 10 May 1840. He left the Scots College on 11 June 1840, and returned to Scotland, where he was ordained a deacon
in 1841, and later in the same year, ordained a priest
on 4 November 1841. Between 1841 and 1868, he served in a number of missions
in Scotland. He was an assistant at Tombae, Banffshire
(December 1842 to February 1842); Glenmoriston
, Inverness-shire
(February 1842 to May 1844) and Dornie Kintail, Ross-shire
(1843 to May 1844); and Braemar
, Aberdeenshire
(May 1844 to May 1845). He was an assistant at Inverness
(May 1845 to May 1846), then had sole charge of that mission (1846 to 1848). Finally, he was in charge of the missions at Fassnakyle in Upper Strathglass (summer 1848 to Whit Sunday 1856), and at Eskadale in Lower Strathglass (1856 to 1868).
of Nicopolis ad Iaterum by the Holy See
on 11 December 1868. On the death of Bishop James Kyle
on 23 February 1869, MacDonald automatically succeeded as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. He was consecrated
to the Episcopate
at the Church of St Mary of the Assumption
(now Cathedral) in Aberdeen
on 24 February 1869. The principal consecrator
was Bishop James Chadwick
, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop John Gray
and Archbishop John Menzies Strain
.
On 15 March 1878, the Scottish hierarchy was restored
by Pope Leo XIII
. The Northern District was elevated to the Diocese of Aberdeen
, with MacDonald becoming its first Roman Catholic bishop since the Scottish Reformation
.
He died in office on 4 February 1889, aged 70.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
clergyman who served as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Aberdeen
Bishop of Aberdeen
The Bishop of Aberdeen was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Nechtan...
from 1878 to 1889.
Early life
Born in Strathglass, InvernessInverness-shire
The County of Inverness or Inverness-shire was a general purpose county of Scotland, with the burgh of Inverness as the county town, until 1975, when, under the Local Government Act 1973, the county area was divided between the two-tier Highland region and the unitary Western Isles. The Highland...
on 2 July 1818, he was the son William MacDonald and Harriet MacDonald (née Fraser). His early education was at the local school, before being sent to the Scots Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Ratisbon in 1830, where he remained there for the next seven years. On 6 June 1837, he entered the Scots College
The Scots College (Rome)
The Scots College in Rome was established by Clement VIII in 1600, when it was assigned the revenue of the old Scots' hospice...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and took the oath
Religious vows
Religious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices and views.In the Buddhist tradition, in particular within the Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, many different kinds of religious vows are taken by the lay community as well as by...
there on 22 April 1838.
Priestly career
He was ordainedHoly 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 subdeacon
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
in the chapel of the Congregation of the Nobles, at the Gesù
Church of the Gesu
The Church of the Gesù is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. Officially named , its facade is "the first truly baroque façade", introducing the baroque style into architecture ,. The church served as model for innumerable Jesuit...
, on 10 May 1840. He left the Scots College on 11 June 1840, and returned to Scotland, where he was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1841, and later in the same year, ordained 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 4 November 1841. Between 1841 and 1868, he served in a number of missions
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
in Scotland. He was an assistant at Tombae, Banffshire
Banffshire
The County of Banff is a registration county for property, and Banffshire is a Lieutenancy area of Scotland.The County of Banff, also known as Banffshire, was a local government county of Scotland with its own county council between 1890 and 1975. The county town was Banff although the largest...
(December 1842 to February 1842); Glenmoriston
Glenmoriston
Glenmoriston or Glen Moriston is a river glen in the Scottish Highlands, that runs from Loch Ness, at the village of Invermoriston, westwards to Loch Cluanie, where it meets with Glen Shiel. The A887 and A87 roads pass through Glenmoriston....
, Inverness-shire
Inverness-shire
The County of Inverness or Inverness-shire was a general purpose county of Scotland, with the burgh of Inverness as the county town, until 1975, when, under the Local Government Act 1973, the county area was divided between the two-tier Highland region and the unitary Western Isles. The Highland...
(February 1842 to May 1844) and Dornie Kintail, Ross-shire
Ross-shire
Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross...
(1843 to May 1844); and Braemar
Braemar
Braemar is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, around west of Aberdeen in the Highlands. It is the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee sitting at an altitude of ....
, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
(May 1844 to May 1845). He was an assistant at Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
(May 1845 to May 1846), then had sole charge of that mission (1846 to 1848). Finally, he was in charge of the missions at Fassnakyle in Upper Strathglass (summer 1848 to Whit Sunday 1856), and at Eskadale in Lower Strathglass (1856 to 1868).
Episcopal career
He was appointed the Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District and Titular BishopTitular 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 Nicopolis ad Iaterum 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 11 December 1868. On the death of Bishop James Kyle
James Kyle (bishop)
James Francis Kyle was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the first Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District of Scotland.Born in Edinburgh on 22 September 1788, he was ordained a priest on 21 March 1812...
on 23 February 1869, MacDonald automatically succeeded as the Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. 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...
at the Church of St Mary of the Assumption
St Mary's Cathedral, Aberdeen
The Cathedral Church of St Mary of the Assumption, usually known as St Mary's Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. It is the see of the Bishop of Aberdeen, who is the ordinary of the Diocese of Aberdeen in the Province of St Andrews &...
(now Cathedral) in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
on 24 February 1869. 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 James Chadwick
James Chadwick (bishop)
James Chadwick was an Anglo-Irish Roman Catholic priest, and second Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.-Life:...
, and the principal co-consecrators were Bishop John Gray
John Gray (bishop)
John Gray was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Western District of Scotland.Born in Buckie, Moray on 16 June 1817, he was the son of William Gray and Joanna Gray . He entered the Scots College in Rome on 30 September 1838, and took the oath on 25 March 1839...
and Archbishop John Menzies Strain
John Menzies Strain
John Menzies Strain was a Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the first Archbishop of the Metropolitan see of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland.-Early life:...
.
On 15 March 1878, the Scottish hierarchy was restored
Restoration of the Scottish hierarchy
The Restoration of the Scottish hierarchy refers to the re-establishment of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland on 15 March 1878...
by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
. The Northern District was elevated to the Diocese of Aberdeen
Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland.-Foundation:The see was founded in 1063 at Mortlach by Blessed Beyn. The earliest mention of the old See of Aberdeen is in the charter of the foundation, by the Earl of Buchan, of the...
, with MacDonald becoming its first Roman Catholic bishop since the Scottish Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
.
He died in office on 4 February 1889, aged 70.