James Louis O'Donnel - A Stan Klos Biography
O'DONNEL, James Louis, colonial R. C. bishop, born in
Knocklofty, County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1737; died in Waterford, Ireland, 11
April, 1811. He entered the Franciscan order, was sent to Bohemia, and on the
completion of his theological studies was ordained priest in Prague in 1770. He
was chaplain to several noble families till 1775, when he returned to Ireland,
was appointed prior of the Franciscans of Waterford, and in 1779 became
provincial of the order in Ireland.
In 1784 he was sent to Newfoundland, with the rank of
prefect-apostolic, for the purpose of organizing the Roman Catholic Church in
that island. He was at first hampered in his mission by the local authorities,
but his services in 1799 during a mutiny gained their favor. His influence
afterward, even in secular affairs, placed him almost on an equality with the
governor.
At this time the Duke of Clarence, afterward William IV,
was attached as a midshipman to the Newfoundland station. His sensuality had
already made him unpopular at St. John's, and when he flung a weapon at Dr.
O'Donnel, who happened to be passing a billiard-room in which the prince was, it
aroused the indignation of the whole population. The missile inflicted only a
slight wound, and, although Dr. O'Donnel used every exertion to quiet the
popular feeling, the young prince was exposed to great danger. The arrival of
his commander with a guard of marines probably saved his life. He was arrested
and conveyed on board his vessel, which at once left the harbor.
In 1796 Dr. O'Donnel was appointed vicar-apostolic of
Newfoundland, and he was consecrated bishop of Thyatira in partibus on 21
September in Quebec. He then returned to Newfoundland, and made the first
episcopal visitation of the island since the English had obtained possession of
it. In 1801 he published a body of diocesan statutes, adapted to the condition
of his church in Newfoundland, and divided the diocese into missions.
Besides the cares of the bishopric, the want of
clergymen obliged him to discharge the duties of a missionary priest, and the
severe labors of the mission soon undermined his health. He resigned his see in
1807, and announced his intention of returning to his native country. A public
meeting was held, attended by the representative men of the island without
distinction of creed, and he was presented with a valuable testimonial. A
petition was also sent to the English government, requesting that a liberal
pension be granted to him, in recognition of his loyalty and his services to the
island.
Partly owing to his dread of French revolutionary
principles, Dr. O'Donnel always preached unlimited loyalty to the crown, and on
several occasions he had been more useful to the English government than a
garrison. He was rewarded with a pension of £50 per annum. Dr. O'Donnel spent
the remainder of his life in Waterford. He has been frequently called the
"Apostle of Newfoundland."
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001
StanKlos.comTM
O'DONNEL, James Louis, colonial R. C. bishop, born in Knocklofty, County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1737; died in Waterford, Ireland, 11 April, 1811. He entered the Franciscan order, was sent to Bohemia, and on the completion of his theological studies was ordained priest in Prague in 1770. He was chaplain to several noble families till 1775, when he returned to Ireland, was appointed prior of the Franciscans of Waterford, and in 1779 became provincial of the order in Ireland. In 1784 he was sent to Newfoundland, with the rank of prefect-apostolic, for the purpose of organizing the Roman Catholic church in that island. He was at first hampered in his mission by the local authorities, but his services in 1799 during a mutiny gained their favor. His influence afterward, even in secular affairs, placed him almost on an equality with the governor. At this time the Duke of Clarence, afterward William IV., was attached as a midshipman to the Newfoundland station. His sensuality had already made him unpopular at St. John's, and when he flung a weapon at Dr. O'Donnel, who happened to be passing a billiard-room in which the prince was, it aroused the indignation of the whole population. The missile inflicted only a slight wound, and, although Dr. O'Donnel used every exertion to quiet the popular feeling, the young prince was exposed to great danger. The arrival of his commander with a guard of marines probably saved his life. He was arrested and conveyed on board his vessel, which at once left the harbor. In 1796 Dr. O'Donnel was appointed vicar-apostolic of Newfoundland, and he was consecrated bishop of Thyatira in partibus on 21 September in Quebec. He then returned to Newfoundland, and made the first episcopal visitation of the island since the English had obtained possession of it. In 1801 he published a body of diocesan statutes, adapted to the condition of his church in Newfoundland, and divided the diocese into missions. Besides the cares of the bishopric, the want of clergymen obliged him to discharge the duties of a missionary priest, and the severe labors of the mission soon undermined his health. He resigned his sue in 1807, and announced his intention of returning to his native country. A public meeting was held, attended by the representative men of the island without distinction of creed, and he was presented with a valuable testimonial. A petition was also sent to the English government, requesting that a liberal pension be granted to him, in recognition of his loyalty and his services to the island. Partly owing to his dread of French revolutionary principles, Dr. O'Donnel always preached unlimited loyalty to the crown, and on several occasions he had been more useful to the English government than a garrison. He was rewarded with a pension of £50 per annum. Dr. O'Donnel spent the remainder of his life in Waterford. 11e has been frequently called the "Apostle of Newfoundland."
