William Joseph McDonald

William McDonald was born in the city of Kilkenny in County Kilkenny, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He trained for the priesthood in St Kieran's College, Kilkenny and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco on June 10, 1928 and served as a parish priest before entering the academic field. He received a master's degree and then doctorate from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. where he remained as a professor.[1] From 1957-1967 he served as Rector of CUA, the last person to hold that title before it was changed to president.[2] From 1960-1963 McDonald served as president of the International Federation of Catholic Universities and editor of the New Catholic Encyclopedia.

On March 17, 1964 Pope Paul VI appointed him as the Titular Bishop of Aquae Regiae and Auxiliary Bishop of Washington. He was consecrated a bishop by Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, on May 19, 1964. The principal co-consecrators were Archbishops Patrick O'Boyle of Washington and Joseph McGucken of San Francisco. McDonald attended the third and fourth sessions of the Second Vatican Council in 1964 and 1965. Three years after his episcopal consecration Pope Paul appointed him to be an auxiliary bishop in San Francisco.

He continued to serve as an auxiliary bishop until his resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II on June 5, 1979. McDonald died January 7, 1989 at the age of 84.[3][4]