(15 May 1858-19 March 1936), clergyman. (R. A. Macdonald; widely known as “Father Ranald”) Born in the 4th Concession of Lancaster Township, GC. Parents: James Macdonald and his wife Isabel Macdonald. He was educated at his local schools, the University of Ottawa, Assumption College at Windsor, Ont., and the Grand Seminary, Montreal. His ordination to the priesthood took place at St. Finnan’s Cathedral, Alexandria, on 26 July 1891. He served first as assistant to Fr Corbet at St. Columban’s, Cornwall, then was at the Cathedral in Alexandria for one year, and thereafter was pastor of St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Greenfield, 1894 to 1922, and of St. Mary’s, Williamstown, 1923 to 1928, and then was chaplain at the Hotel Dieu Hospital, Cornwall, till May 1935. He died at the Hotel Dieu Hospital and is buried at Glen Nevis. At Greenfield, where he was the first priest after the mission there was raised to parish status in 1894, he directed the building in 1912-1913 of the splendid stone church. To the traveller, coming into the quiet, leafy, secluded village, the beauty of the church suddenly falls on the sight. The contractor was Alexander Cameron. While at Greenfield, Fr Macdonald was also responsible for the Roman Catholic mission at Maxville and, for a time, was responsible also for the Roman Catholics of Apple Hill. The first Roman Catholic church at Maxville was built during his pastorate.

Standard Freeholder 20 & 25 March 1936, Glengarry News 20 & 27 March 1936 * St. Catherine of Sienna Parish Greenfield, Ontario 1894-1994 (1994) (with portrait) * Archibald MacDonell and others, History of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Williamstown, Ontario: 1847-1997 (1997) (with portrait) * Villeneuve 56-57, &c. * Sinnsearachd 25, 206, 213-215 * Maxville (1991) 198-199 * 25th anniversary of St. Catherine’s Parish, Greenfield, Glengarry News 7 Nov. 1919 (includes full text of the parisioners’ address to Fr Macdonald on this anniversary)