MacNeil, Most Rev. Joseph Neil

Archbishop Joseph Neil MacNeil was born in Syndey, Nova Scotia on April 15, 1924, the eldest of three children. He attended St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree. After graduating in 1944 he enrolled in the Halifax Diocesan Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1948.

The first seven years of his ministry as a priest were spent as an assistant pastor in the Nova Scotia parishes in Bridgeport, Sydney Mines, and Antigonish.

Between 1959 and 1960 he served as Administrator of the Diocese of Antigonish following the death of the bishop. In 1961, after the new bishop had been appointed, he was made pastor of St. Ninian's Cathedral in Antigonish. His appointment was short-lived as only a few months later he was asked by his Bishop to accept an appointment as Director of the Extension Department at St. Francis Xavier University, a position he held for nine years.

On June 24, 1969 he was ordained as a Bishop and installed as Bishop of St. John in New Brunswick on July 16, 1969. Shortly after, on July 6, 1973, he was appointed to the Archdicoese of Edmonton and was installed as its Archbishop on September 5, 1973.

During his time as Archbishop of Edmonton, Archbishop MacNeil served on a variety of councils, committees and organizations including being the Alberta Bishop's Representative on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Health Association (later renamed the Catholic Health Association of Alberta and Affiliates). He also served as president of the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops from 1979 to 1981. As president of the CCCB, Archbishop MacNeil headed a delegation to Ottawa to meet with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and presented the Bishops' position that the unborn be included in the Charter of Rights.

During his time as Archbishop in Edmonton he encouraged parishes to form prayer groups, liturgy committees. He promoted the establishment of a variety of councils, committees and commissions across the Archdiocese including the Youth Commission (1976), Archdiocesan Camp Encounter Committee (1977), and the Social Justice Commission (1977), the Family and Life Commission (1978), the Archdiocesan Personnel Committee for Pastoral Assistants (1979), the Council of Women Religious (1983), The Archdiocesan Finance Committee (1983), the Archdiocesan Project Review Board (1983), Archdiocesan Council of Women (1985-1994), the Diocesan Pastoral Council later named the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (1987), the Seminary Screening Committee (1988), The Archdiocesan Right-to-Life Committee (1989), the Archdiocesan Sexual Abuse Committee (1990), Archdiocesan Budget Committee (1991), The foundation of Newman Theological College (1992), The Archdiocesan Catholic School Committee (1992), Together in Ministry Program (192), Ministry to Priests Program (1994), Transformation of Parishes Task Group (1996), the Mission Council (1997), the Priests Continuing Education Committee (1998), and Archbishop Joseph MacNeil Endowment Fund (1999).

In 1979 he drew up the first of many five-year pastoral plans for the Archdiocese of Edmonton.

During his time as Archbishop he oversaw the establishment of six new parishes including St. Theresa - Millwoods, Native of Mary, St. John Bosco, Good Shepherd, St. Charles Borromeo, and Holy Family. He also established missions for various national groups including the Chinese, Korean, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish-Speaking, and Vietnamese Catholic Communities.

Archbishop MacNeil oversaw a variety of celebrations during his time in Edmonton, including the 75th Anniversary of the Province of Alberta (1980), the 100th Anniversary of the City of Edmonton (1992), and the 125th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Diocese of St. Albert (1996). In 1984 Archbishop MacNeil welcomed Pope John Paul II to Edmonton, an event which deeply touched the Archbishop.

Archbishop MacNeil also completed a Doctorate of Canon Law from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (1955-1959), and completed Graduate Studies in Economics at the University of Chicago. In addition he holds Honorary Doctorates of Law from St. Francis Xavier University (1978), St. Thomas University (1980), the University of Alberta (1982), the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies in Rome (1999), and St. Stephen's College (2000).

After 26 years of dedicated service he retired from his position as Archbishop on June 7, 1999. Despite his retirement Archbishop MacNeil continued to be an active member of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.

He died at the Grey Nuns Hospital on February 11, 2018 after suffering a stroke the day prior. His funeral took place at St. Joseph's Basilica on February 16th and was interred the same day at Holy Cross Cemetery.