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April
3, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 7Oakland,
CA
OBITUARY
Father Bernard Donaghey, SVD
Former Oakland pastor dies in southern California
Father Bernard
Donaghey, a former pastor of St. Patrick and St. Bernard parishes in Oakland,
died suddenly on March 17 in Highland, CA. He was 76 and had been a Divine
Word Missionary for 57 years.
Born in Charlestown, Mass., he enrolled in Divine Word High School Seminary
in Miramar, Mass., in 1943. Four years later he entered the Divine Word
novitiate and in 1949 pronounced his first vows. He was ordained to the
priesthood in 1957.
He later received his Master’s of Education degree from Notre Dame
University in Indiana.
His first assignment as a priest took him to the Philippines where he
served for 16 years, first as a teacher and later as director at Divine
Word High School (St. William’s) in Laoag, and as president and
treasurer at Divine Word College (St. Paul’s), which later became
Divine Word University in Tacloban.
Divine Word Father Herman Manuel, currently serving as parochial vicar
at Oakland’s St. Bernard Parish, warmly recalled the lasting legacy
of Father Donaghey’s years in the Philippines.
Father Donaghey was an inspiring figure for grade school and high school
students because he was “down to earth” and easy to approach
and talk to, Father Manuel said. He recalls the priest playing basketball
with the youth while wearing his clerical suit.
Father Donaghery was also a “mentor and spiritual guide” for
college students, Father Manuel said, adding that he “felt honored”
to serve in the same parish as his mentor had years earlier.
As a show of its appreciation, Divine Word University invited Father Donaghey
back to the campus in 1996, during his Golden Jubilee celebration, to
honor his contributions as president and treasurer.
After serving in the Philippines until 1973, Father Donaghey became rector
of Divine Word Seminary in Riverside until 1979 when he was assigned as
associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist Church in Los Angeles.
He moved to the East Bay in 1981 as pastor at St. Barnard Parish and later
became pastor of St. Patrick Parish (1989-1993).
In addition to his educational and pastoral assignments, Father Donaghey
spent several years in hospital ministry as chaplain at St. Bernardine
Hospital (1993 to 1996) and at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino,
where he worked until his untimely death.
He also served the two terms as vice provincial for the U.S. Western Province.
The funeral Mass was held March 24 at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral
in San Bernardino. Burial was at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park
in Riverside. His brother, Father John Donaghey SVD, will be principal
celebrant at a memorial Mass on April 29 at St. Francis de Sales Church
in Charlestown, Mass.
Father Bernard Donaghey gives Herman Manuel his
diploma upon graduation from grade school in Laoag City, the Philippines.
The youngster continued his education and is now Divine Word Father Herman
Manuel, parochial vicar of St. Bernard Parish, Oakland.
