O’Shea giving talk

MacDonald the second bishop of Charlottetown

On Sunday in St. Andrew’s Chapel, Father Art O’Shea will give an overview of the life of Bishop Bernard Donald MacDonald, the second Bishop of Charlottetown (1837 – 1859).

MacDonald was born in 1797 at Allisary in St. Andrew’s parish and was the first nativeborn Islander to be ordained to the priesthood (1822). He conducted his ministry primarily in the western area of the Island where he developed a special affection for the Acadian people. In 1837, following the death of Bishop Angus MacEachern, MacDonald was ordained as the second Bishop of Charlottetown, but he continued to live in his beloved Rustico.

When he was appointed bishop, the Diocese of Charlottetown also included the

territory of New Brunswick. In 1842 the Diocese of Saint John (in America) was established and Bishop MacDonald was given the option of moving to the newer and larger diocese. He remained as bishop of Charlottetown.

In the 22 years of his episcopacy, MacDonald oversaw impressive growth in the Island Roman Catholic church. Following the influx of immigrants from Ireland during the 1840’s, the Catholic population grew significantly. In 1857 the population of the Island was recorded at 73,000, of which 33,000 were Catholics.

The bishop was committed to providing enough priests to see to the growing church and by the time of his death in 1859 there were 17 priests in active service. His pastoral concern was also extended to the care for his priests as he established the St. Bernard’s Society to look after the needs of the clergy in illness and old age.

During his term, 24 new churches were constructed across P.E.I., including a cathedral on the corner of Dorchester and Great George streets dedicated to St. Dunstan.

His term was not without challenges within the church and in the civil life of the Island. The Belfast Riot of 1847 and the “Bible Question” of the 1850s reflected the denominational divisions and conflicts of the time.

MacDonald made significant contributions to Catholic education on the Island. In 1855 he founded St. Dunstan’s College in Charlottetown and in 1857 he invited the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame to set up schools in the diocese.

On Dec. 30, 1859, Bishop MacDonald died at St. Dunstan’s College, having finally moved from Rustico. He was buried in the crypt of the cathedral. His remains were moved in 1999 to St. Andrew’s and now lie beside the mortuary chapel of Bishop MacEachern.