Early life Charles McDonnell was born on February 1, 1854, in
Manhattan to Charles and Eleanor (née Preston) McDonnell. His father was a printer. After attending
De La Salle Institute, he entered
St. Francis Xavier College in 1868, both in New York City. He was sent to
Rome by Cardinal
John McCloskey in 1872 to further his studies at the
Pontifical North American College.
Priesthood While in Rome, McDonnell was
ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York by Bishop
Francis Silas Chatard on May 19, 1878.
Bishop of Brooklyn On March 11, 1892, McDonnell was appointed the second bishop of Brooklyn by Leo XIII. He received his
episcopal consecration on April 25, 1892, from Archbishop Michael Corrigan at St. Patrick's Cathedral. He was
installed at
St. James's Pro-Cathedral in Brooklyn on May 2, 1892. His first official act was the dedication of the new St. Augustine Church on May 15, 1892. This was followed by conferring
confirmation to 600 individuals on May 18th at
Church of the Sacred Heart in Brooklyn. He erected 54 parishes and schools for new immigrant groups settling in the diocese, many from
Italy and
Eastern Europe, as well as for
Hispanics and
African Americans. McDonnell adopted the policy of securing members of some order for each of the races and languages in his jurisdiction. He invited several
religious institutes into the diocese, including the
Redemptorists, Benedictines, Franciscans (including the
Minor Conventuals and Capuchins), the
Jesuits, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, the Daughters of Wisdom, and the
Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus. McDonnell established the forerunner of the Catholic Schools Office in 1894 and the diocesan chapter of
Catholic Charities in 1899. The Vatican named him an
assistant 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 the
Brooklyn Eagle as "learned, judicious, amiable, firm and persuasive."
Death and legacy McDonnell died on August 8, 1921, from
kidney disease in
Brentwood, New York, aged 67. His wake was held in St. James's Pro-Cathedral and he was buried in the downstairs crypt. ==References==