March 6, 2026

OBITUARY: Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell 

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD –The Most Reverend Timothy A. McDonnell, Bishop Emeritus of Springfield, passed away on Wednesday, March 4 at Mary’s Meadow in Holyoke. He was 88 at the time of his death. 

Born in New York on December 23, 1937, he was the eldest son of the late John J. and Margaret (Looney) McDonnell, immigrants from County Cork, Ireland. He is survived by one younger brother, John J. McDonnell. FMS a Marist Brother.

The McDonnell family were parishioners at St. Anthony Parish in the Bronx, and later joined Holy Cross Parish in the Clasen Point neighborhood. He and his brother attended St. Anthony and then Holy Cross schools. After graduating, he went on to attend Cathedral College the archdiocesan high school and junior college-level seminary in Manhattan.

During his younger years he worked many jobs to help his family as well as provide him the means to get into New York Giants football games, becoming a life-long fan; something that brought him even greater pleasure when his beloved Giants upset the New England Patriots in the 2008 Super Bowl.

He completed his philosophy degree and theological formation at St. Joseph Seminary in Dunwoodie, where he became known for his intellect and pastoral sensitivity.

On June 1, 1963 he was ordained a priest by Francis Cardinal Spellman. His first assignment was as curate of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Ardsley, N.Y. There he taught religious education in a nearby parish – and earned a master’s degree in pastoral counseling at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y.

His years in New York were spent split between parish assignments and archdiocesan leadership posts, recognized as a fast learner, with a sharp eye. He would often point out errors in construction drawings. He was a trusted counsel to the Cardinals he served, duties which included Assistant Director of the Archdiocesan Office for Christian and Family Development, Director of the Archdiocesan Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Vice-Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer of Archdiocesan Catholic Charities, and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of New York.

On October 30, 2001 Pope John Paul II named him as Auxiliary Bishop of New York. His Episcopal Ordination took place on December 12, 2001, consecrated by Cardinal Edward Egan.

Three years later he would receive the call from the Pope’s representative which brought him to western Massachusetts. He was installed as the Eighth Bishop of Springfield on April 1, 2004.

He came at a daunting time for the diocese as it faced mounting, unresolved allegations of clergy abuse. He immediately began negotiating directly with the lawyers representing many of the survivors, eventually arriving at the first of a number of settlements.  Later on, he would meet with survivors, expressing his sorrow for the abuse they had endured. These meetings moved him deeply, staying with him throughout his remaining years.

He also arrived to a diocese which had diminished numbers but still many churches, parishes that were struggling. He established the Pastoral Planning Office with the goal of consolidating parishes, having fewer but stronger parishes.

It was a painful process, leaving deep wounds in some communities but he could see that if nothing was done, the closings would have eventually been much greater.

His tenure also brought many happy occasions, including the consecration of three new churches, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Westfield, St. Francis of Assisi, Belchertown and Immaculate Conception, Holyoke.

He also supported a revamping of the Vocations Office, bringing new energy to this important work. The effort paid off with growth in vocations and in turn seminarians. He opened the door to foreign seminarians joining our diocese., Over his ten years he ordained 26 men as priests.

On June 1, 2011, an EF3 tornado touched down making direct hit on Cathedral High School and the retired priests’ residence on Wendover Road. As soon as the tornado had passed, he got in his car to visit the area, including the severely damaged high school as well as the priests’ residence which had nearly been flattened. He would oversee the initiation of filing for settlements with insurance carriers and seeking FEMA funds to help build the eventual Pope Francis Preparatory School.

On December 23, 2012, his 75^th birthday, he submitted his letter of resignation as required by church law. It was accepted on June 19, 2014 with the naming of Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski as the Ninth Bishop of Springfield.

Bishop McDonnell decided to retire in western Massachusetts, at St. Joseph Parish in Pittsfield where he thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Masses and being ever present to the parish.  He treasured his years there being part of the community.  His declining health prompted him to take up residence in Holyoke, where he was welcomed at Mary’s Meadow, a healthcare facility.

On January 6 of this year, knowing his time was short on this earth, he penned a final letter to the Diocese of Springfield, writing in part, “I find myself thinking more and more of the Pauline passage which I have quoted at funerals over 62 years of priesthood: “’Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered the human imagination what God has prepared for those who love Him.’ ”

Bishop William Byrne, the Tenth Bishop of Springfield, expressed his on personal sorrow at the passing of Bishop McDonnell, “I will certainly miss his wise counsel. good humor and his great faith. We give thanks to God for having blessed us with this holy man.”

Bishop McDonnell will be waked Thursday, March 12 from 4pm to 6pm at St. Joseph Church in Pittsfield. At 6pm that evening, the Mass of Christ the High Priest will be celebrated.

Friday, March 13 he will lie in state at St. Michael’s Cathedral from 9am to 10:30am, followed at 11am with his funeral, the Mass of Christian Burial. He will be entombed in a crypt below the main altar of the Cathedral at the St. Augustine Chapel.

Both Masses will be live streamed at diospringfield.org.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Diocese of Springfield, please note Bishop McDonnell memorial gift.