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.
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]
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]
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.
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