Most Reverend John F. Donoghue

"To Live in Christ Jesus"

Born:	August 9, 1928
Ordained priest:	June 4, 1955
Ordained bishop:	December 18, 1984
Installed as Archbishop of Atlanta:	August 19, 1993
Retired as Archbishop of Atlanta:	December 9, 2004

Archbishop John Francis Donoghue was born in Washington, D.C. on August 9, 1928, the son of Daniel and Rose Ryan Donoghue. Both of his parents were natives of Ireland. He has three brothers, all of them in the Washington, D.C. area.

All of his studies were in the Washington, D.C. and Maryland area.. He attended Park View School, Washington; Sacred Heart School, Washington; Gonzaga High School, St. Charles College, Catonsville, Maryland, and St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. Following ordination, he did a year of graduate studies at The Catholic University of America School of Canon Law. He has the academic degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Sacred Theology, Bachelor of Canon Law and Licentiate of Canon Law.

Archbishop Donoghue was ordained to the priesthood in St. Matthew Cathedral, Washington, on June 4, 1955. He served as assistant pastor of St. Bernard's Church, Riverdale from 1955-1961; as assistant pastor of the Holy Face parish, Great Mills, Maryland from 1961-1964. After a year of graduate studies in canon law, he joined the staff of the Archdiocesan Chancery (Washington) where he was Chancellor/Vicar-General and served there until his appointment as Bishop of Charlotte. He served successively, the late Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle, William Cardinal Baum, now assigned to the Vatican, and the late James Cardinal Hickey.

In 1970, he was given the papal rank of Chaplain to His Holiness with the title "Monsignor." A year later, he was further honored to be named a Prelate of Honor.

Archbishop Donoghue was ordained bishop in 1984, becoming the second bishop of Charlotte, succeeding Bishop Michael Begley. He was named by Pope John Paul II to head the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1993, and was installed as Archbishop on August 19, 1993.

Archbishop Donoghue retired on December 9, 2004.

Each bishop has a coat-of-arms and a motto. As his motto, Archbishop Donoghue chose "To live in Christ Jesus."

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