Fr. Timothy Donnelly

Send Flowers

Visitation Schedule
Christian Wake
St. Benedict Catholic Church
1 Subiaco Ave
Subiaco, AR  72865
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
7:05 P.M.
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
St. Benedict Catholic Church
1 Subiaco Ave
Subiaco, AR  72865
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
10:30 A.M.
Cemetery
Abbey Cemetery
Subiaco, AR  72865
Fr. Timothy Donnelly

of Subiaco, AR

January 11, 1940 - November 23, 2017

Father Timothy Donnelly, O.S.B. monk of Subiaco Abbey, Subiaco, Arkansas, strengthened with the Sacraments and the prayers of his brother monks, died November 23, 2017. At the time of his death, Father Timothy was 77 years old. He had been a professed monk for 58 years and a priest for 52 years.

Patrick Joseph Donnelly was born January 11, 1940, in San Antonio, Texas, the second oldest child in a family of one girl and four boys. His family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, during his childhood and he received eight years of Catholic education at Immaculate Conception in Tulsa.

Patrick Donnelly came to Subiaco Academy in the autumn of 1953, entering as a freshman high school seminarian in the academy's scholasticate. Through the years he excelled in his studies, especially in the field of mathematics, and he lettered for four years in the academy band in which he played the clarinet. He graduated with the class of 1957, ranking fifth highest among his peers.

Entering Subiaco Abbey in the autumn of 1958, Patrick Donnelly professed his vows as a Benedictine monk on September 8, 1959, receiving the name Timothy. He was ordained to the priesthood in the abbey church at Subiaco by Bishop Albert L. Fletcher of the Diocese of Little Rock on Saturday, May 22, 1965.

Father Timothy immediately began a life-long commitment in teaching and administration, with mathematics as his first teaching field. He was a dean and teacher in Subiaco Academy from 1965-75, and he was coordinator of religious activities in the school from 1969-70. He earned a B.S. degree in mathematics during 1971 from St. Louis University.

During 1975-76 he also served as retreatmaster at Coury House, and in the autumn of 1976 he was appointed Academic Dean in the Academy. In addition to these duties, he was named Director of Centenary Hall in 1984. Father Timothy marked the 25th milestone of his Monastic Profession in September 1984, and he fulfilled the spiritual role of Chaplain for the Subiaco Academy Alumni Association from 1991-98.

While retaining his duties in the Academy, Father Timothy served as Subprior of Subiaco Abbey from 1992-95. He was appointed Interim Headmaster of Subiaco Academy in 1995, and then served as Headmaster until 1998. Throughout his teaching years, Father Timothy furthered his education by attending summer school and night classes at universities in Arkansas and out of state. He spent two years in graduate study and teaching at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, earning his M.A. degree in mathematics and education.

From 2000-02 he was a teacher and Assistant Chaplain at Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was then recalled to Subiaco Academy and spent 2002-04 as teacher and Director of Centenary Hall. From 2004-06 he resumed the position of Academic Dean along with his other duties. In the autumn of 2006 his health necessitated that he be relieved as Director of Centenary Hall. Father Timothy remained a faculty member and Academic Dean in the Academy until 2009 when he was assigned as pastor of St. Michael Church in Van Buren and Sacramental Minister of Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine in Winslow. He remained in this position until his health forced his retirement in March of 2012.

Fr. Timothy became a permanent resident of the Abbey Health Center in 2012. He was living there at the time of his death.

Throughout his life Fr. Timothy demonstrated a quick wit. He was never one to turn away from a good argument and would often take an opposing view to whatever matter was being discussed simply to enliven the discussion. He was regularly at his place, whether at prayer or work, until the final months of his life when frail health caused weakness and instability.

Survivors are three brothers: Michael of Venice, FL, John of Broken Arrow, OK, and Robert of Foley, AL; one sister: Mary Penick and her husband Giles Penick of Tulsa, OK.

A Christian Wake service will be held Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, at 7:05 p.m.; the Liturgy of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. in Saint Benedict Church at Subiaco. Interment will be in the Abbey Cemetery under the direction of Roller Funeral home of Paris.

May he rest in peace.

Sign Guestbook

2 Condolence(s)
DW
Cordova, TN
Liked
Sunday, November 26, 2017

So sorry for your loss may you find peace and comfort in the words spoken at 2 Corinthians 1:3 & 4" ( 3) Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort, (4 ) who comforts us in all our trials so that we may be able to comfort others in any sort of trial with the comfort that we receive from God

Marshall and Marion Isbell
Orlando, FL
Liked
Thursday, November 23, 2017

Rest In Peace Fr. Timothy

Marshall & Marion Isbell ‘88