Fr. Joseph O’Donnell, CSC died November 23, 2021 at the age of 88.
Fr. O’Donnell was born October 13, 1933 and Ordained to the Priesthood on June 8, 1960 for the Congregation of the Holy Cross.
Fr. O’Donnell served for 27 years as a Naval Chaplain. He arrived in the Diocese of Phoenix in July of 1997. He served as a chaplain to those in law enforcement and assisted at several parishes and hospitals in the valley including the Veterans Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital over the years. His ministry with the Arizona Department of Public Safety helped console hundreds of families during their time of loss. He spent serval weeks ministering at the World Trade Center in New York after 9/11. And he assisted the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina when 3,000 people were relocated to Phoenix and were housed initially at the Colosseum in Phoenix. In his later years of life, he lived at the Beatitudes Retirement Community in Phoenix where he regularly offered Mass for the residents.
Reflecting on his life and priesthood at his 50th anniversary Fr. Joe stated, “I am surely more real than I was on the day of my ordination. I have my own scars. I am far from perfect. I have made my mistakes and have tried to correct them as best I could. I have learned that the life of Faith is not lived in the head. I keep learning that all life is a gift from God. I believe in a giving and forgiving God, a loving God. I believe in a Church that will survive every challenge placed before it. We Are the Church, all of us. We are all on the same journey of life. The priesthood does not give one a free ride; far from it. “To whom more has been given, more shall be demanded.” I pray for the grace to end my days in God’s hands.”