Halifax Herald January 14, 2005 MacDONALD, Monsignor Donald G. - It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Right Reverend Donald Gerard MacDonald, Vicar General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, on January 10, 2005, at the age of 75 years. Msgr. MacDonald was born in Antigonish on September 18, 1929, the seventh in a family of eight children of Jennie (Chisholm) and Alex A. MacDonald of Heatherton. He attended local schools there and St. F.X. University before entering St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton in 1949. He was ordained on June 4, 1955 at St. Ninian's Cathedral, Antigonish, by Bishop John R. MacDonald, for the Archdiocese of Edmonton. In his nearly 50 years as a priest, he served as Pastor in various parishes throughout the Archdiocese, including Rector of St. Joseph's Basilica from 1993-1998. Msgr. MacDonald was Rector of the St. Joseph's Seminary from 1978-1985, and Chaplain at the University of Alberta Hospital from 1969-1974. He was named Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II in 1991, and became the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Edmonton on April 27, 1998, a position which enabled him to share his wisdom with several of the Archdiocesan planning and consultative bodies such as the Board of Consultors, Council of Priests, Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, St. Joseph's College Board, the Newman Theological College Board, Archdiocesan Finance Committee, among others. Although Msgr. MacDonald retired from full-time ministry in 2002, he continued to celebrate Mass on weekends in Parishes whenever needed, to respond to emergency calls, and as Vicar General. He is survived by his sisters, Katherine (Kaye) Fraser, Fraser's Grant; Mary (Colin) Chisholm, Halifax; brothers, John (Marcella) and Chisholm (Libby), both of Heatherton; his sister-in law, Florence MacDonald, Heatherton, and brother-in-law, A.W. Chisholm, Peterborough, Ont.; as well as cousins and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Allan; sisters, Anna (Tate) and Genevieve (Chisholm), and his brothers-in-law, John D. Fraser and Jim Tate. Following Vigil Service, presided by Archbishop J.N. MacNeil, and a Mass of Resurrection, presided by Archbishop Thomas Collins in Edmonton, the body will be transferred to MacIsaac Funeral Home in Antigonish, with viewing on Sunday from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m., when they will be transferred to Immaculate Conception Church in Heatherton for Vigil Service at 7 p.m., followed by viewing until 10 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 17, celebrated by Bishop Raymond Lahey, co-celebrated by several priests of the diocese followed by burial in the parish cemetery. www.MacIsaacs.ca