Last May marked the transfer of St. Roch’s associate pastor, “Father” (Monseigneur) Edward J. O’Donnell, to St. Peter’s Church in Kirkwood, an event too unexpected for most and one that has meant the loss of a favorite friend.
Msgr. O’Donnell was one of these wonderful people that comes along only now and then and makes such a big difference. As editor of the St. Louis Review he resided at St. Roch’s as its associate pastor and over a period of seven years became very much a part of the community, particularly the St. Roch Community.
Some will remember him for the spellbinding sermons that he could deliver with as much ease at 7am on a weekday as at 11:30 on a Sunday. Others will remember him as a whiz on the basketball court, and many will remember him gathering up as many children as his car would hold and taking them out for ice cream.
The list is long. He was so many things and the people of St. Roch’s will be forever grateful to have had him in their lives for as long as they did. He made such a difference.
Original photograph caption
Msgr. Edward J. O’Donnell. The Paper, October 1977, page 2. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Paper, October 1977.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1977_10.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
