Fr. Charles Anthony Donovan, CSP, of the Paulist Fathers passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Saturday, January 15, 2005. On February 2nd Fr. Donovan would have celebrated 65 years as a priest. He was born in New York City on November 10, 1915. He was received into the Paulist Fathers on September 3, 1934 and ordained a priest on February 2, 1940. His Paulist priesthood was the center of his life. He loved being a priest and a Paulist.
Most of his 64 years as a priest was spent here in San Francisco. His first assignment was to be the Director of St. Mary's Chinese Mission in September 1940. He left the Chinese Mission in 1947 to take other pastoral assignment in the Paulist community, but left his heart in Chinatown. After serving the community as a Missionary Preacher, Rector of the Minor Seminary and Pastor of St. Philip Neri's in Portland, Oregon, he returned to his beloved Chinese Mission in 1964 as Director and Pastor. He continued in his ministry until he took Senior Ministry Status in 1981. Even though he was retired, he still presided over countless baptism, marriages, funerals and Masses at the Chinese Mission and Old St. Mary's. He will be fondly remembered for his love of the Chinese people, his compassion, especially for the poor, and his preaching.
A viewing will take place on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 at Old St. Mary's Cathedral (Grant and California Street) beginning at 4:00 p.m. followed by a Vigil Prayer Service at 6:00 p.m. and a Funeral Mass at 7:00 p.m. Entombment in the Paulist Fathers' Chapell at Holy Cross Cemetery will take place on Thursday, January 20th at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Mary's Chinese Building Fund, 910 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133-4204.
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