1972
Sept. 5: Ordained a bishop at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Ga.
Sept. 7: Installed as bishop at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock
1973
January: Called on Arkansans to pray after U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion
1974
January: On first anniversary of Roe vs. Wade decision, issued "affirmation in behalf of life"
1975
May: Welcomed Vietnamese refugees to Fort Chaffee and asked Catholics to donate rosaries and medals to them
1977
January: Celebrated fourth anniversary of Roe vs. Wade decision with Pontifical Respect for Life Mass at the Cathedral of St. Andrew
June: Introduced permanent diaconate program to diocese
1978
Issued pro-life pastoral, five years after Roe vs. Wade
1980
April: Hosted Vocations Day and asked parishes to pray for vocations and host events to ask youth to consider vocations
May: Supported Cuban refugees resettled at Fort Chaffee
1981
Nov. 7: Ordained 21 men to the diaconate at the Cathedral of St. Andrew. It was the first ordination of deacons in the diocese since the permanent diaconate was restored by Vatican Council II.
1982
June: Asked Missionaries of Charity to come to Little Rock to operate Abba House, a home for unwed mothers, and hosted Blessed Mother Teresa during her visit
1983
May: Asked parishes to study bishops' pastoral called "The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response"
August: Began dialogue with black Catholics through the Diocesan Council for Black Catholics
1984
September: Launched a national spiritual revitalization program in the parishes called Renew
1985
October: Celebrated Renew Mass for 4,000 Catholics at the Statehouse Convention Center
1986
March: Ushered in a name change for The Guardian. The diocesan newspaper would now be known as Arkansas Catholic.
1987
January: Issued statement opposing death penalty
September: Led a group to New Orleans to see Pope John Paul II
1988
May 28: Ordained first black priest, Father Warren Harvey, for the Diocese of Little Rock
1991
Oct 5: Celebrated Mass for first Encuentro for Hispanics to celebrate their faith
1992
September: Issued diocese's pedophilia policy for employees
1993
Nov. 27: Opened diocese's sesquicentennial year
1994
April: Following approval from the Vatican and U.S. bishops, allowed girls to be altar servers
November: Celebrated closing of sesquicentennial year with a Mass at the Statehouse Convention Center for 5,000
1995
March: Played in the first Bishop McDonald Golf Tournament to benefit Catholic Charities
Nov. 5: Celebrated sesquicentennial of Cathedral of St. Andrew with dedication of McDonald Hall
1996
January: Issued pastoral called "Immigrants in Our Midst" to coincide with World Migration Day
September: Supported establishment of diocese's first theology program
1998
May: Observed 50th anniversary as a priest with a Mass and reception for his seminary classmates
October: Celebrated a Mass for his 75th birthday with 3,000 Catholics at the Statehouse Convention Center and turned in his resignation as bishop as required by canon law. Bronze doors on the cathedral were installed as a birthday gift.
1999
January: Had emergency open heart surgery and missed Mass for Life and pilgrimage to St. Louis to meet Pope John Paul II
2000
Jan. 4: Resignation accepted by pope with the announcement that Father J. Peter Sartain would be the new bishop
2002
April: Said farewell to diocese and moved to the St. Joseph Home for the Elderly in Palatine, Ill., to be the chaplain
2004
March: During Savannah's St. Patrick's Day Parade, stood by his friend Father Joseph Ware who was the grand marshal
2006
November: Celebrated Mass in Little Rock with members of diocese's first diaconate class for their 25th anniversary
2008
September: Celebrated 60th anniversary as a priest with Mass in Little Rock
2010
June: Dedicated new building at St. John Center called The McDonald Center. The building, where his office was formerly located, is used by Catholic Charities.
2011
October: Celebrated 88th birthday with a cake during Arkansas Catholic's centennial reception
Click here for the Bishop McDonald special issue index.
