1857 – 1912 (September 24)
Patrick Hugh Joseph O’Donnell was born on Arran Island, Donegal, Ireland, on March 7, 1857, to Hugh and Grace O’Donnell. He taught for some years in Ireland before entering the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1886. He pronounced simple vows on February 26, 1887, and was solemnly professed with a dispensation on June 11, 1889. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Ryan four days later, on June 15, 1889, in the Cathedral in Philadelphia.
From 1889 to 1893, Father O’Donnell taught at Villanova and, at the same time, was in charge of the mission at Saint Denis in Ardmore, Pa. In 1893, he was assigned to Saint Augustine, Lansingburgh, N.Y., and in 1898 to and Saint Joseph, Greenwich, N.Y, before returning to Lansinghburgh the following year. In 1906 he was stationed in Havana, Cuba, and in 1907 in Lawrence, MA. at Saint Mary’s Parish. In 1911, Father O’Donnell was assigned to Saint James Parish, Carthage, N.Y.
Father O’Donnell died in Philadelphia’s Saint Joseph’s Hospital of throat cancer on September 24, 1912 at the age of 55. He is buried in the Community Cemetery at Villanova.
