Fr. Bernie Donaghey, SVD, veteran Divine Word Missionary for 57 years, and proud Irishman, died on the eve of St Patrick’s Day in San Bernardino, CA.
Bernard Donaghey was born on October 14, 1929, and raised in Charlestown, Mass. in sight of the Bunker Hill Memorial. His parents, Hugh (+’82) & Fanny Ann (+’85) had two sons, John and Bernie, after immigrating from Dunaff, Clonmany, County Donegal, Ireland. His older brother, Fr. John Donaghey, SVD, resides at Divine Word residence in Techny, Ill. Fr Bernie was baptized, received First Communion and made his Confirmation at St Mary’s Church in Charlestown. He entered DW High School Seminary in Miramar, Mass. in 1943; entered SVD Novitiate at Techny in 1947; pronounced his First Vows in 1949; was ordained a Priest on June 9, 1957, and was immediately missioned to the Philippines where he spent 16 years.
In the Philippines he was a teacher and Director at Divine Word High School (St. Williams) in Laoag; President and Treasurer of DW College (St. Paul’s) which soon was elevated to status of Divine Word University in Tacloban. During this time Fr. Bernie spent a sabbatical at Nemi Renewal Center in Rome and received his Masters of Education from Notre Dame University. He considered himself their chaplain the year the football team won the national championship.
Fr Bernie was invited back to Divine Word University for its Golden Jubilee celebration in 1996, to honor him on the occasion because “he contributed significantly to the growth of the school in the years he served as
president and treasurer”. His hard work, sacrifices, enthusiasm and foresight are mainly responsible for what the college is now – still the pride of the North (Luzon). “If one has to be invited to this celebration, it would be him.”(Dante Venus – Provincial) Fr Bernie served in the Philippines at a time when The Filipino SVDs were ready to assume leadership positions, and Fr Bernie recognized this with compassion.
Fr. Bernie returned to the U.S. assigned to the Western Province in July, 1973, where he served as Rector of Divine Word Seminary, Riverside, until 1979. During this time he played a key role in transitioning the community from the seminary program to a retreat and retirement center.
In 1979 he became Associate Pastor at St John the Evangelist Church in Los Angeles. He was part of the birth of the Neo- Catechumenal Way in Southern
California. He requested to serve as Itinerate priest for this community but was asked to remain in parish ministry in California.
Fr. Bernie was the first SVD pastor serving a multi cultural community at St. Bernard Parish in Oakland, CA. He had a wonderful way with people while working in the parishes. His pastoral sensitivity and talent were obvious to everyone who knew him.
From 1989-1993 he was Pastor of St Patrick Church in Oakland, CA. He summed up his qualifications for continuing in parish ministry, “sensitivity to needs, importance of sacramental ministry, concern for reaching out to the larger community, capacity to explain and love for scripture”.
After 15 years in parish ministry Fr. Bernie became Chaplain at St Bernardine Hospital from 1993-1996, and remained available to help there on a substitute basis.
In 1996, Fr. Bernie graciously accepted the request from Bishop Barnes to serve as Chaplain at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino, where he worked until his untimely, sudden death. His own simplicity and humility allowed him to respond freely to this challenge.
Fr. Bernie was always willing to serve the Local Church This was exemplified with his availability for supply, particularly at Holy Spirit in Fountain Valley, St. Johns in Rubidoux, St. Annes and St. Adelaides in San Bernardino, March Air Base West Village and his home parish in Boston.
Along with his ministerial assignments, he also was called to serve as Vice Provincial for the US Western Province for 2 terms and served on the National SVD Medical Review Committee; the USW Finance Committee, the Board of Wordnet; and as District Superior for USW.
His devotion to family was expressed when he helped care for his dependant parents, and by his attentiveness to extended family.
We will long remember Fr. Bernie for his profound spirituality, his rich homilies and deep love for the SVD Community. We will always cherish his affable, warm, generous person who loved stories, and was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and Celtics. Fr. Bernie, we love you and thank you! Amen!
Father Bernard’s Funeral Mass and burial will take place on Friday, March 24, 2006, in Riverside, California. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass for Father Bernard on Saturday, April 29, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Francis De Sales Church, 313 Bunker Hill Street, Charlestown, with the principal celebrant being his brother Fr. John Donaghey.