James Louis O'Donel

Who was James Louis O'Donel?

James Louis O'Donel was the first Roman Catholic bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland.

James O'Donel was born into a prosperous family and received a classical education before entering the Franciscan order. After British-imposed laws restricting Catholicism ceased to be rigorously enforced, O'Donel was able to travel to Rome to study for the priesthood, becoming ordained in 1770. He later taught philosophy and theology in Prague, and in 1777 became the Franciscan Prior in Waterford.

Following developments in England, Catholics in Newfoundland gradually gained religious liberty, made explicit by a public declaration by the Governor in 1784. After a request from Irish merchants in Newfoundland, O'Donel was sent to St. John's as Prefect Apostolic the same year, largely to deal with the presence of "unlicensed" and "unruly" priests on the island. In addition to his personal popularity, one of his qualifications for the position was an ability to preach in Gaelic.

O'Donel found the situation to be much as it was described, as insubordinate priests fought Irish battles. Accordingly O'Donel set about reorganizing the Catholic Church in Newfoundland. He built a chapel in St.