Previous
Next
A full house in one of Arkansas’ largest churches turned out to wish Msgr. Bernard Malone a happy early 90th birthday Jan. 12. The Mass at Christ the King Church in Little Rock was concelebrated by Msgr. Malone’s nephew, pastor Msgr. Francis Malone, and several other area priests.
“In an age when so much bad news has been reported about clergy and children, Msgr. Bernard … has been the antithesis of such,” said Msgr. Francis Malone in his homily. “He has been called by other names, other titles, ‘Msgr. Bernard, Msgr. Barney, Msgr. Senior.’ He has also been called Arkansas’s answer to a leprechaun, (and) he has been called ‘cute’ by far more than I can recall here.
“But I can tell you that time and time again he has been called a good priest, a wonderful confessor, a spiritual father to many of our seminarians and a humble priest.”
Msgr. Scott Friend, vicar general and diocesan vocations director, presented the guest of honor with a framed document from the Vatican in recognition of the occasion. He also echoed the sentiments of the homily, thanking Msgr. Bernard Malone for his gift of example to him as a fellow priest and to the diocese’s many seminarians, saying he is a familiar sight at the House of Formation in Little Rock and a constant source of inspiration.
“Jesus, it’s clear, takes you wherever he goes,” Msgr. Friend said, “and it’s clear you take him wherever you go.”
Msgr. Bernard Malone was visibly moved at various points during the Mass, struggling more than once to compose himself enough to speak. Scanning the congregation his face lit up at the sight of family members and longtime friends, and he indulged in a subtle wave to each one.
Afterward at a reception in the school cafeteria, the line of well-wishers stretched the length of the room, past a table laden with handmade birthday cards from the children of Christ the King School.
Bernard George Malone was born Jan 23, 1924, in Pennsylvania. A child of the Great Depression, he was unable to enter any seminary in the region because they were all full. He, along with other future diocesan luminaries Msgr. John F. O’Donnell and the late Msgr George Tribou, traveled to St. John Home Mission Seminary in Little Rock instead. Bishop Albert J. Fletcher ordained him in 1950.
He organized the Catholic Youth Organization, the Parochial School League and Senior CYO. Along the way, he served 27 assignments in six decades at parishes large and small throughout the state, before retiring from full-time service in 2012. He lives in retirement at St. John Manor in Little Rock.
“It was a total surprise,” Msgr. Bernard Malone said of the day’s activities. “I’ve had 64 years as a priest and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I didn’t do anything exceptional, I just did my duty. Whatever success I’ve had in my ministry and my faith, I credit to the Blessed Mother. Without her, I couldn’t have made it.”
