His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Norman Francis McFarland
Bishop of Orange
Titular Bishop of Bida
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of Orange
PredecessorWilliam Robert Johnson
SuccessorTod David Brown
Other post(s)Bishop of Reno-Las Vegas
1976 to 1987
Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco
1970 to 1976
Titular Bishop of Bida
Orders
OrdinationJune 15, 1946
by John J. Mitty
ConsecrationSeptember 5, 1970
by Joseph McGucken
Personal details
BornFebruary 21, 1922
Martinez, California, US
DiedApril 16, 2010(2010-04-16) (aged 88)
Orange, California, US
EducationSaint Patrick Major Seminary
Styles of
Norman McFarland
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor

Norman Francis McFarland (February 21, 1922 – April 16, 2010) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Orange in California from 1987 until 1998. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco in California from 1970 to 1976 and as bishop of the new Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas in Nevada from 1976 to 1987.

Biography

Early life

Norman McFarland was born on February 21, 1922, in Martinez, California, as the third oldest son of Francis and Agnes (Kotchevar) McFarland. He went to public schools and later attended Saint Joseph Seminary in Mountain View, California. McFarland earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943 at Saint Patrick Major Seminary in Menlo Park, California.[1]

McFarland was ordained to the priesthood on June 15, 1946, by Archbishop John J. Mitty for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.[2]In 1946, McFarland was serving as an associate pastor at St. Andrew's Parish in Oakland, California, when he was selected by Archbishop Mitty to attend the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[2] McFarland earned a Doctor of Canon Law degree and returned to the archdiocese.[3] McFarland served in several archdiocesan positions, including as a marriage tribunal official and a professor at Lone Mountain College in Menlo Park, California.[3]

Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco

McFarland was appointed by Pope Paul VI as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and Titular Bishop of Bida on June 5, 1970.[3] He was consecrated on September 5, 1970, by Archbishop Joseph McGucken. His principal co-consecrators were Bishops Hugh Donohoe and Merlin Guilfoyle. McFarland was appointed as the vicar for finance, vicar for seminarians, and pastor in residence at Old Mission Dolores in San Francisco[2]

On December 6, 1974, McFarland was appointed as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Reno[3] by Paul VI upon the resignation of Bishop Michael Green. As the administrator, McFarland was in charge of finances for all of Nevada and is credited with covering "its debt by spending eight days on the phone asking bishops around the country for grants and low-interest loans."[1]

Bishop of Reno

Paul VI appointed McFarland as bishop of the new Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas on February 10, 1976. McFarland expanded the funding for Catholic Charities.[1]

Bishop of Orange

McFarland was appointed as bishop of the Diocese of Orange by Pope John Paul II on December 29, 1986, after the death of Bishop William Johnson.[4] McFarland was installed as its bishop on February 24, 1987. In 1995, after hearing McFarland's homily at the Red Mass for Orange County, several Orange County Bar Association member lawyers formed the St. Thomas More Society of Orange County.[5]

Retirement and legacy

Prior to his 76th birthday in 1998, McFarland submitted his resignation which was accepted by Pope John Paul II on June 30, 1998.[6] In 2003, McFarland was inducted to the Ring of Honor of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.[7] McFarland was recognized during the annual spring Ring of Honor and Founders Circle Dinner for his contributions towards their community.[7]

Norman McFarland suffered a heart attack and died in Orange, California, on April 16, 2010.[8][9][6] His Mass of the Resurrection was held at the Holy Family Cathedral in Orange, California, on April 23, 2010.[10]

Episcopal succession

Ordination history of
Norman Francis McFarland
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byJoseph McGucken
DateSeptember 8, 1970
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Norman Francis McFarland as principal consecrator
Michael Patrick DriscollMarch 6, 1990

McFarland's direct Apostolic succession is delineated from Cardinal Scipione Rebiba. Over 91% of the world's more than 4,000 Catholic bishops alive today trace their episcopal lineage back to Rebiba.

Sources

References

  1. 1 2 3 "OC bishop McFarland dead at 88". Press-Telegram. April 16, 2010. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Most Reverend Norman Francis McFarland, D.D., J.C.D." (PDF). Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. June 29, 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 30, 2016. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Pope Accepts Bishop Mcfarland's Resignation, Names Bishop Tod Brown to Orange; Bishop Mcgrath Appointed Coadjutor of San Jose; Msgr. Wester Is Named Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco". USCCB. April 16, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  4. ↑ "POPE NAMES CALIFORNIA BISHOP". NY Times. January 1, 1987.
  5. ↑ "St. Thomas More Society of Orange County, CA". www.catholicbusinessjournal.biz. 1995. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  6. 1 2 "Bishop Norman Francis McFarland [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  7. 1 2 "Ring of Honor Advancement". Mater Dei High School. 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-06-13. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  8. ↑ "Former Orange County Bishop Dies At 88". CBS2. April 16, 2010. Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  9. ↑ "PASSING OF THE MOST REVEREND NORMAN MCFARLAND, RETIRED BISHOP OF ORANGE". Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. April 16, 2010. Archived from the original on May 21, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  10. ↑ Mark Eades (April 24, 2010). "The funeral mass of Bishop McFarland". OCRegister.
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