Article

Bernard Donald Macdonald

Published Online January 16, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Bernard Donald Macdonald, Roman Catholic bishop of Charlottetown (b at Allisary, PEI 25 Dec 1797; d at St Dunstan's College, near Charlottetown, 30 Dec 1859). In 1812 Macdonald was one of the first 2 Island boys sent to study for the priesthood at the Grand Seminary of Québec.

Bernard Donald Macdonald

Bernard Donald Macdonald, Roman Catholic bishop of Charlottetown (b at Allisary, PEI 25 Dec 1797; d at St Dunstan's College, near Charlottetown, 30 Dec 1859). In 1812 Macdonald was one of the first 2 Island boys sent to study for the priesthood at the Grand Seminary of Québec. He was ordained there on 1 June 1822. After 15 years of missionary work back in his native colony, he was named bishop of Charlottetown on 21 February 1837.

Created in 1829, his diocese initially included PEI, Magdalen Islands and New Brunswick. The bulk of Macdonald's episcopate was concerned with ensuring a succession of clergy and establishing Catholic institutions for his charge. To that end, his most significant accomplishment was the opening of St Dunstan's College in January 1855 as a preparatory school for seminarians. Religious controversy and ill health (likely tuberculosis) marred the last years of Macdonald's episcopate. Nevertheless, he successfully guided the diocese through a difficult adolescence.