Most Reverend John F. Donoghue

Retired Archbishop John Francis Donoghue, Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Atlanta from 1993 until his retirement in 2004, died Friday, November 11 at the age of 83.

The archdiocese said Saturday that Donoghue will lie in state at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 353 Peachtree St. NE in Atlanta from 10 a.m. Wednesday until 10:00 a.m. Thursday.

On Thusday, there will be a procession of the body from the basilica to the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Road NE, where a funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m.

Donoghue was Atlanta’s fifth archbishop and was succeeded by current Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. He attended St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore and was ordained to the priesthood in Washington in 1955. He studied for a licentiate in canon law in 1964 and for 18 years served under three Washington cardinals. He was chancellor, vicar general and secretary for support services of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1972 until 1983.

Pope John Paul II appointed Donoghue bishop of Charlotte, N.C., in 1984, and nine years later he was appointed archbishop of Atlanta after the death of Archbishop James P. Lyke in December 1992. Donoghue was installed as Atlanta's fifth archbishop on Aug. 19, 1993. He retired on Dec. 9, 2004.

Donoghue has been a member of the Canon Law Society since 1965.

Please remember Archbishop Donoghue in your prayers and masses. May he rest in peace.

Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For a more in-depth article regarding Archbishop Donoghue's life and death, please visit The Atlanta Journal-Constitution website.