Archdiocese of Chicago's Oldest Priest Dies at 105

Rev. Msgr. Richard J. O'Donnell, via Blessed Sacrament Parish, Chicago

CHICAGO, IL -- Rev. Msgr. Richard Joseph O’Donnell, who was about to celebrate 81 years in the priesthood, passed away Monday at age 105.

He was the Archdiocese of Chicago’s oldest priest and pastor meritus of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish (now Blessed Sacrament Parish) in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, where he lived during his retirement years.

Msgr. O’Donnell died just a few weeks short of his 81st anniversary as a priest. He born in Chicago on Oct. 15, 1910. He attended St. Bridge and St. Basil Schools in Chicago, Quigley Preparatory Seminary, and graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelien Seminary.

He was ordained into the priesthood on April 27, 1935, by George Cardinal Mundelein, then the Archbishop of Chicago.

Msgr. O’Donnell spent much of his priesthood serving Chicago’s South Side parishes, including assistant pastor at St. Gabriel Parish in Chicago (1935-41); Our Lady of Peace Parish on Jeffery Boulevard (1941-48); St. Bernadette Parish in Evergreen Park (1948-50); and St. Ita Parish in Chicago (1950-63).

In 1963, Msgr. O’Donnell was named pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish on Hermitage Avenue, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1981. So respected and beloved was he by parishioners and colleagues, he was named Pastor Emeritus. The parish was closed in 2008 and is now Blessed Sacrament Parish.

He received the title “Monsignor” when he was named one of the Prelates of Honor of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, in 2010.

The Chicago White Sox probably had no greater or more avid fan than Msgr. O’Donnell. On the occasion of his 100th birthday, he reflected on his many years of cheering for the South Side ball club through thick and thin in an interview with Catholic New World: “‘I’ve been a White Sox fan since I was a little boy and followed them all my life. My favorite player was second baseman Nellie Fox.’”

The White Sox invited Msgr. O’Donnell not once, but twice, to throw out the ceremonial first pitches in 2001 and 2009.

In that same interview, the wise old priest also offered advice to all the young, busy pastors.

“Do what Cardinal Bernardin did,” Msgr. O’Donnell said. “He was busy too. He got up an hour early to get his prayers in. Prayer, whenever they say it, is very important. That’s how the priest will get along — by prayer. It’s a support, because you’re not all alone, you have God to help you.”

Rev. James Hyland, pastor of Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Evergreen Park, said his friend remained active even in retirement. Fr. Hyland and Msgr. O’Donnell met Our Lady of Good Counsel, where they both spent 13 years together at the parish.

“He is our oldest priest in the Archdiocese and has been retired since the 1980s, but he never really retired.” said Fr. Hyland, who will serve as homilist at Msgr. O’Donnell’s funeral mass. “It’s amazing to see how much he still did in the parish and how he ministered to people right until the end. He was always a parish priest.”

Another former colleague, Rev. Martin O’Donovan, pastor of Saints Faith, Hope & Charity Parish in Winnetka, lived with Msgr. O’Donnell for about nine years at Good Counsel.

“He was one of the finest guys I had ever lived with,” Fr. O’Donovan recalled. “He was about 73 years old when I first encountered him and he was so filled with life. I would pass by his room and see him praying the liturgy of the hours.”

Fr.. O’Donovan said he spent many hours talking baseball with Msgr. O’Donnell, among other other topices.

“[H]e was so well-rounded … He was just a very fine man. I was a very young pastor at the time and even though we came from different ages and different approaches, I learned so many great things from him,” Fr. O’Donovan said. “He was such an inspirational guy.”

Visitation for Msgr. O’Donnell will take place on Friday, April 15, from 2 to 8 p.m., at Blessed Sacrament Parish / Our Lady of Good Counsel Worship Site, 3528 South Hermitage Avenue in Chicago.

Visitation at the Parish will continue again on Saturday, April 16, from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass, which will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Archbishop Blase J. Cupich will be the main celebrant and Fr. James Hyland will be the homilist.

Interment will take place at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chicago.

Msgr. O’Donnell is survived by a nephew, Richard Fitzpatrick.