Fr. Francis McDonald (1872-1925)

Father Francis McDonald passed away February 28, 1928.

Father Francis was born in Leavenworth and the family lived at Fort Leavenworth for a time.  On the death of his father he was placed at St. Benedict’s College.  He was professed as a member of St. Benedict’s Abbey in 1891 and ordained to the priesthood June 28, 1896.

Immediately after ordination he was appointed to a professorship at the College, though serving St. Ann’s Parish, Hiawatha, for a short time.  He became director of the College in 1904 and procurator of the Abbey in 1907.  It was during this time that the Administration Building, now St. Benedict Hall, was built. 

January 1, 1908, he was signed to St. Benedict’s Parish, Kansas City, Kan., and remained there until 1910, returning to the abbey for three years and then was reassigned to St. Benedict’s where he remained until his death.  He was known as a very good pitcher at baseball and as an educator, but his chief claim to fame was as one who could direct young men to St. Benedict’s as candidates to our Monastery.  Many of those listed in this Necrology within the entry about Bernard Sause, OSB, (cf. entry for February 7) are members because of his influence.