James Charles McDonald

Who was James Charles McDonald?

James Charles McDonald was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as fourth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown.

Born in St. Andrews, Prince Edward Island, McDonald received his education from the Central Academy in Charlottetown and taught in a number of Island schools for many years. Following the completion of his studies at Charlottetown's St. Dunsant's College, McDonald travelled to the Grand Seminary of Montreal and was ordained in 1873.

McDonald taught briefly at St. Dunstan's College and was a pastor in Kings County for nine years. Later, McDonald would be named Rector of St. Dunstan's, a position he held for seven years.

In 1891, following the death of Bishop Peter McIntyre, McDonald was immediately appointed Bishop, after serving as Coadjutor bishop since 1890.

Bishop McDonald's tenure was seen as a period of growth for the Diocese of Charlottetown. Many new churches were built throughout Prince Edward Island, St. Dunstan's College became affiliated with Université Laval in Quebec City in 1892, and the Notre-Dame Convent for Girls flourished.

In 1896, construction began on the new St. Dunstan's Basilica.