James Charles McDonald
Encyclopedia
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown is a Roman Catholic diocese which comprises the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It is currently led by Bishop Richard John Grecco...
.
Born in St. Andrews, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, 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
Kings County, Prince Edward Island
Kings County is located in eastern Prince Edward Island, Canada.It is the province's smallest, most rural and least-populated county. Kings County is also least dependent upon the agriculture industry compared with the other two counties, while being more heavily dependent on the fishery and...
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
Peter McIntyre (Catholic bishop)
Peter McIntyre was the third Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown, succeeding Bishop Bernard Donald McDonald....
, McDonald was immediately appointed Bishop, after serving as Coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
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
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1892, and the Notre-Dame Convent for Girls flourished.
In 1896, construction began on the new St. Dunstan's Basilica
St. Dunstan's Basilica
St. Dunstan's Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Charlottetown in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is named for St. Dunstan the great Anglo Saxon saint from Glastonbury...
(the one before the present basilica that stands today). The new basilica was built out of stone and considered one of the most magnificent churches east of Quebec.
In 1908, after many years of service, McDonald's health began to fail, and he was left an invalid. At this time, Father James Morrison, Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Diocese, stepped in to take care of diocesan administration.
Bishop McDonald finally succumbed to his ill health and died at his Charlottetown residence in 1912. His funeral took place at St. Dunstan's Basilica and his remains were interred in his native home of St. Andrew's.