Charles Edward McDonnell | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Brooklyn | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn |
| Appointed | March 11, 1892 |
| Predecessor | John Loughlin |
| Successor | Thomas Edmund Molloy |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 19, 1878 by Silas Chatard |
| Consecration | March 25, 1892 by Michael Augustine Corrigan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1854-02-01)February 1, 1854 New York City, US |
| Died | August 8, 1921(1921-08-08) (aged 67) |
| Buried | St. James Pro-Cathedral |
| Education | Pontifical North American College |
| Motto | Justitia et pax (Justice and peace) |
Charles Edward McDonnell (February 1, 1854 – August 8, 1921) was an Americanprelate of theRoman Catholic Church. He served asbishop of Brooklyn in New York City from 1892 until his death in 1921.
Charles McDonnell was born on February 1, 1854, inManhattan to Charles and Eleanor (née Preston) McDonnell. His father was a printer.[1] After attendingDe La Salle Institute, he enteredSt. Francis Xavier College in 1868, both in New York City. He was sent toRome by CardinalJohn McCloskey in 1872 to further his studies at thePontifical North American College.[2]
While in Rome, McDonnell wasordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York by BishopFrancis Silas Chatard on May 19, 1878.[3] He earned hisDoctor of Divinity degree shortly afterwards.[4]
Following his return to New York in the fall of 1878, the archdiocese assigned McDonnell as acurate atSt. Mary's Parish in Manhattan. He was transferred in 1879 toSt. Stephen's Parish in Manhattan and shortly afterwards to the newSt. Patrick's Cathedral Parish in Manhattan, where he served as master of ceremonies. McCloskey named McDonnell as hisprivate secretary in 1884. WhenMichael Corrigan became archbishop, he kept McDonnell as his private secretary and named himchancellor of the archdiocese in 1889.[2] In 1890, McDonnell was elevated to the rank ofprivate chamberlain byPope Leo XIII.[4]
On March 11, 1892, McDonnell was appointed the second bishop of Brooklyn by Leo XIII. He received hisepiscopalconsecration on April 25, 1892, from Archbishop Michael Corrigan at St. Patrick's Cathedral. He wasinstalled atSt. James's Pro-Cathedral in Brooklyn on May 2, 1892.[3] His first official act was the dedication of the new St. Augustine Church on May 15, 1892. This was followed by conferringconfirmation to 600 individuals on May 18th atChurch of the Sacred Heart in Brooklyn.[4]
During McDonnell's 29-year-long tenure as bishop, the number of Catholics in the diocese increased from 250,000 in 1891 to 900,000 in 1921.[5] He erected 54 parishes and schools for new immigrant groups settling in the diocese, many fromItaly andEastern Europe, as well as forHispanics andAfrican Americans. McDonnell adopted the policy of securing members of some order for each of the races and languages in his jurisdiction. He invited severalreligious institutes into the diocese, including theRedemptorists, Benedictines, Franciscans (including theMinor Conventuals and Capuchins), theJesuits, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, theMissionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, the Daughters of Wisdom, and theSisters of the Holy Infant Jesus.[2]
McDonnell established the forerunner of the Catholic Schools Office in 1894 and the diocesan chapter ofCatholic Charities in 1899. The Vatican named him anassistant at the pontifical throne in 1903. He founded the diocesan newspaper,The Tablet, in 1908. McDonnell added two hospitals and expanded the existing ones. He opened the Ozanam Home for Friendless Women, the new St. Vincent's Home for Friendless Boys in Brooklyn, two seaside recreation places for children and a trade school farm for orphans. He was described by theBrooklyn Eagle as "learned, judicious, amiable, firm and persuasive."[1]
McDonnell died on August 8, 1921, fromkidney disease inBrentwood, New York, aged 67. His wake was held in St. James's Pro-Cathedral and he was buried in the downstairs crypt.[5]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Bishop of Brooklyn 1892–1921 | Succeeded by |
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