Death of the Most Reverend J. Faber MacDonald, Bishop Emeritus of Saint John, New Brunswick

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Most Rev. J. Faber MacDonald, Bishop Emeritus of Saint John, New Brunswick, died on Friday, February 17, 2012, in Charlottetown, at the age of 80.

Bishop MacDonald was born on January 20, 1932, in Little Pond, Prince Edward Island. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Charlottetown on March 9, 1963; appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Grand Falls, Newfoundland, by Pope John Paul II on January 11, 1980; ordained Bishop on March 19, 1980, in Saint. Dunstan’s Basilica, Charlottetown; and appointed Bishop of Saint John on October 23, 1998. His resignation as Bishop of Saint John was accepted by the Holy Father in September 2006 for reasons of health.

Over the 26 years of his episcopal ministry, the Most Reverend Faber MacDonald served on the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and also as a member and Chairman of a number of CCCB Commissions, including as Chairman of the then English Sector Commission for Christian Education; Chairman of the Commission for Social Affairs, Chairman of the former Commission for Missions, and Chairman of the former English Sector Commission for Social Communications. He was also the CCCB representative with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services of Canada as well as with the National Catholic Broadcasting Council.

There will be a prayer service at Saint Dunstan’s  Basilica, Charlottetown, on Thursday, February 23, at 1:30 PM, followed by visitation from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The funeral Mass will be on Friday, February 24, at 10:00 AM.