Bernard Malone

Monsignor Bernard G. Malone, 93, died on July 19 at Parkway Village, Little Rock where he has resided since January. At the time of his death he was the oldest priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, and first in seniority, having served 67 years of priestly ministry. Born in Philadelphia in 1924, to Francis I. and Marie Malone, he was a part of a great influx of priests from Philadelphia to Little Rock in the 1900's. Ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1950, in the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, Little Rock, his assignments included associate pastor in Blytheville, St. Patrick, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Tontitown, Paragould, St. Mary, North Little Rock, before being named pastor of St. Mary, McGehee and the Missions of Dermott and Dumas. He was subsequently named pastor of the Churches in Paragould, West Memphis, St. Mary, Hot Springs, Christ the King, Fort Smith, and founding pastor of St. Bernard, Bella Vista. In 1985 he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel, followed by St. Patrick, North Little Rock, St. Mary, Hot Springs, again St. Patrick, North Little Rock, and then St. Jude, Jacksonville and St. Rose, Carlisle. In 1994 he was appointed pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Marche, and finally, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hot Springs Village. After sixty years in active ministry he entered retirement, with one brief assignment as administrator of St. Michael, West Memphis and the Mission of Sacred Heart, Crawfordsville. His re-entry into retirement was short-lived as he was named Confessor of The House of Formation, Little Rock, where he remained in faithful service until December, 2016 when he entered Parkway Village. He loved being a priest to the end of his earthly life! He served on virtually every diocesan board, directed the Marian Year of 1987, and was appointed a diocesan consultor in 1994. Our late Holy Father, St. John Paul II named him a "Prelate of Honor" with the title of "monsignor" in 1995. Monsignor Malone was a humble and gentle servant, self-effacing, and loved being a priest. Among his last words were those of one who proclaimed his love of God, the Church, and his joy in being able to say what a happy life he had been given. A vigil service will be prayed on Sunday night, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Christ the King Church, 4000 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, with Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, former bishop of Little Rock and presently archbishop of Seattle, presiding, followed by the praying of the rosary by Msgr. R. Scott Friend, Vicar General. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place, also at Christ the King Church, Little Rock, on Monday, July 24, at 10 a.m. with Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, Bishop of Little Rock, presiding. Homilist will be his nephew, Monsignor Francis I. Malone. Burial will take place at "Priest's Circle," Calvary Cemetery, Little Rock, immediately following the Mass. Pallbearers for the funeral will be Donnie Bridges, Wally Gieringer, Jr., Robert Honzic, Patrick Koch, Thomas O'Connor, Joseph Pabian, and Steve Wells. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to the Seminary Endowment Fund, Diocese of Little Rock, 2500 North Tyler, Little Rock, Arkansas 72217. Arrangements by Smith - North Little Rock Funeral Home. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.