Dennis J. O'Donovan

Rev. Dennis J. O'Donovan[lower-alpha 1] (died September 26, 1892) was an American Roman Catholic priest.

Early in his priesthood, O'Donovan was a curate at Saint Augustine's in South Boston.[1]

O'Donovan announced on January 14, 1877, that Fr. John Brennan would be leaving St. Mary's Church in Dedham, Massachusetts and St. Catherine's in Norwood, which was part of the same parish.[2] Many in the congregation had been unhappy with Brennan and the week before he became the first priest to ever file for bankruptcy.[2] The parish was also bankrupt at the time.[3] Donovan took over for Brennan as pastor, and served until August 1888.[4][5] Donovan expanded and improved St. Catherine's during his time as pastor.[6] When he resigned in 1878 due to failing health his parishioners presented him with a resolution expressing their thanks and $550.[7]

On July 29, 1873, Donovan was commissioned as chaplain of the Ninth Regiment of the Massachusetts Militia.[8][9] He served until April 1876, resigned, and then resumed his post in September of the same year.[8] He resigned again in September 1879.[8] In 1874 he was named chaplain for the prisoners at the Deer Island Prison.[10] In 1875, he was a candidate for the Boston School Committee on the Democratic ticket.[11][12] He was also a member of the Philo-Celtic Society.[13]

In his final days he was an assistant at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.[1] [14] He died at the Carney Hospital on September 26, 1892, and is buried in Saint Augustine Chapel and Cemetery.[15][1][16] His funeral was attended by more than 100 priests.[1]

Notes
  1. His last name was sometimes spelled "Donovan."

References
  1. "South Boston". The Boston Post. September 27, 1892. p. 7. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  2. "Dedham". The Boston Globe. January 15, 1877. p. 8. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  3. Vogler, Paula (April 21, 2016). "Parish looks to origins as members celebrate anniversary". The Dedham Transcript. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  4. Byrne et al. 1899, p. 323.
  5. Hurd 1884, p. 78.
  6. Byrne et al. 1899, p. 330.
  7. "Presentation to Father O'Donovan". The Boston Globe. July 12, 1878. p. 5. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  8. "Resignation of the Chaplain of the NInth Regiment-Distinguished Visitors". The Boston Globe. September 19, 1879. p. 4. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  9. "Ninth Regiment". The Pilot. August 8, 1873. p. 8.
  10. "Personal". The Pilot. Vol. 37, no. 30. July 25, 1874.
  11. "The Vote for School Committee". The Boston Globe. December 15, 1875. p. 1. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  12. "The Democratic Nominations". The Boston Globe. December 13, 1875. p. 4. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  13. "Studying Erin's Own Language". The Boston Globe. May 1, 1898. p. 15. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  14. Sadliers' Catholic Directory, Almanac and Clergy List Quarterly. D.&J. Sadlier & Company. 1883. p. 93. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  15. Kenney, William F. (1909). Centenary of the See of Boston: A Newspaper Man's Compilation of the Leading Events of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Diocese of Boston, Oct., Nov., 1908. J.K. Waters Company. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  16. Sullivan 1895, p. 81.

Works cited
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