REV. JAMES P. O'DONNELL

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Father James Patrick O’Donnell was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the eldest of four children of the late Margaret (née Keaveney), a native of Ballintubber, County Mayo, and Owen O’Donnell of Islandeady, County Mayo, Ireland. Fr. Jim, as he was known to his countless family and friends, grew up in East Cleveland and attended St. Philomena Grade School and Cathedral Latin High School. He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Jerome’s College in Kitchener, Ontario, before continuing his formation at St. Mary’s Seminary in Cleveland. On May 19, 1956, Fr. Jim was ordained as a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Cleveland.

Fr. Jim began his priestly ministry at St. Colman Parish on Cleveland’s west side, followed by an assignment at St. Mary Parish in Avon, then a largely rural community. He later served for eight years as Director of the Cleveland Diocese’s Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). During that time, he was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Calcutta, India, where he worked alongside Mother Teresa in the Home for the Dying. This formative experience deepened a lifelong commitment to serving the poor and those on the margins of society.

In the years that followed, Fr. Jim spent time traveling across the United States, living and working among those experiencing poverty. In 1977, he felt called to establish a “ministry of presence” among society’s most marginalized. Together with Sr. Maggie Walsh-Conrad, a consecrated laywoman, he co-founded the Community of the Little Brothers and Sisters of the Eucharist in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood, where they lived and served for many years.

Their work in the community was transformative. Fr. Jim and Sr. Maggie helped bring Habitat for Humanity to the Central neighborhood, contributing to the development of more than 600 new homes. Their ministry also took on a deeply personal dimension when Sr. Maggie became a licensed foster-adoptive parent. Together, they welcomed 12 children into their home, known as the Visitation Home, offering them love, stability, and faith. Today, those children are grown, with some raising families of their own.

In addition to his community work, Fr. Jim was actively involved in L’Arche, Faith and Light, and Faith and Sharing – three organizations dedicated to persons with disabilities and their families. He also served as Catholic chaplain at the Northeast Pre-Release Center and the Juvenile Detention Center, offering pastoral care to those who were incarcerated.

For nearly 40 years, Fr. Jim assisted with weekend Masses at St. Malachi Parish. He was also a founding member of the Cleveland chapters of the Jesus Caritas priest and lay fraternities and continued to gather monthly with his brother priests in prayer and fraternity. In his later years, he resided at Ennis Court in Lakewood, Ohio, where he participated in daily Mass and ministry to fellow residents with generosity and compassion.

In his 70 years as a priest, Fr. Jim lived with, laughed with, embraced, and served the people of his community in dynamic and myriad ways. He left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone he encountered. Those in need came to his door because he always answered. He shared freely of his table – the vegetables that he grew and the bread that he baked. Because of Fr. Jim, so many of his neighbors came to know “Catholic” to mean welcome, accompaniment, a washing of feet, and the sharing of a smile.

Fr. Jim now rests with God, as he walked with Him throughout his time among us. He offered a lifetime of faithful service marked by humility, deep compassion, and a steadfast commitment to the Gospel. 

Loving brother of Gene-deceased (Donna), Eileen Hansen (Robert-deceased) and the late Joseph; beloved companion in ministry to Sr. Maggie Walsh-Conrad and cherished "Abba" of Josie, Martin, Caroline and Ryan; much loved uncle, great uncle, cousin and dear friend of many throughout the Diocese of Cleveland. Passed away May 6, 2026. Funeral Mass MONDAY, May 11, St. Malachi Church (1371 W 25th St. Cleveland, OH 44113) at 11 A.M. with Most Rev. Michael Woost, Principal Celebrant. Interment All Souls Cemetery, Chardon. VESPERS SUNDAY, May 10, at 3 P.M., at St Malachi Church with Most Rev. Edward Malesic presiding and visitation following until 7P.M. Memorial contributions are suggested to Little Brothers and Sisters of the Eucharist, 3658 Rocky River Dr. -#115D, Cleveland, OH. 44111.

Life of Father James O’Donnell, priest of the Diocese of Cleveland, founding member of the Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests, went home to his heavenly Abba on May 6, 2026.

By Fr. Robert Sanson, member of his Jesus Caritas group.

JOURNEY TO THE MARGINS: FR. JIM O’DONNELL

What do Pope Francis, Fr. Jim O’Donnell and Saint Charles de Foucauld have in common? All have a central focus on being like Jesus going to the most marginalized in our society. On May 15, 2022, Pope Francis canonized Charles de Foucauld, a very little-known priest from France, who transformed from French soldier and adventurer to humble little Brother to the Taureg tribe in Algeria, Northern Africa. They are a Muslim people. Charles came to live among them, not to convert them or set up a soup kitchen, but simply to be a holy neighbor who would learn their language and customs and walk with them on their impoverished journey.

Pope Francis’ call and example was to go to the “peripheries” of the world: the poor, marginalized , most powerless people, to companion them as sisters and brothers. He had special affection for the “Little Brothers and Sisters of Jesus,” lay fraternities founded and inspired by Charles de Foucauld. In this light, we learn the story of Fr. Jim O’Donnell, who lived most of his priesthood in the footsteps of St. Charles de Foucauld.

Fr. Jim is well-known and loved in the Diocese of Cleveland, but also nationwide, and in the world community of “Jesus Caritas” (Jesus who is Love). It is an international priests’ fraternity, in which small groups of priests meet to spend an hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, reflect on the Gospels, do a monthly review of life (one’s blessings and challenges), share a meal and some priestly fraternity and support.

Fr. Jim has been an example, leader and mentor, but would agree with the plea of Dorothy Day: “Don’t call me a saint. Don’t write me off that easily.” Jim would be delighted to be called a “marabout,” which is the Taureg word for a holy man. Charles de Foucauld was initially resented as a European priest living in a totally Muslim neighborhood, but came to be accepted, loved, even revered as a marabout.

Fr. James P. O’Donnell was ordained May 19, 1956. After several parish assignments as a priest, he was made director of CYO, the Catholic Youth Organization in charge of sports programs in the Diocese of Cleveland, which he served seven years. He also felt a strong call to minister—WITH and not to the poor--somehow to companion them and live like they lived. He visited Mother Teresa in Calcutta, spoke with her, and shadowed her. As St. Teresa of Calcutta, he seemed to experience a “Call within a Call,” to remain a faithful priest, but in a simple house in the poor area of Cleveland’s Central neighborhood., not in a parish setting. The life of Charles de Foucauld also inspired him to found Jesus Caritas in Cleveland in 1972.

He prepared by making a retreat at a Trappist monastery in Oka, Quebec. The Vanier family was a crucial resource. George Vanier was the Governor General of Canada, and he and his family were very spiritual and involved Catholics. Fr. Jim got to know his family and his son Jean Vanier, who helped develop the L’Arche communities for the developmentally disabled, which spread from Canada to 37 countries. Jean Vanier also fostered Faith and Light Communities for the disabled and their families, and pilgrimages to Lourdes, France. Fr. Jim would often lead trips like these from Cleveland. Jean Vanier’s wonderful work was marred in recent years by credible accusations of sexual misconduct with women, which greatly hurt Fr. Jim. (Vanier died in 2019). But the real mentoring in 1972 was by the spiritual director to the mother of Jean Vanier, Fr. Jacques Leclerc who was the first Jesus Caritas President for the whole world of priestly fraternities. Fr. LeClerc befriended Jim in Montreal.

When Fr. Jim returned to Cleveland in 1973, he founded Jesus Caritas with six priests. There are now several fraternities in Cleveland, and many across the USA and the world. See their website at jesuscaritasUSA.org, which illustrates the various charisms of Charles de Foucauld which can inspire not only priests, but all faithful disciples of Jesus.

In 1976, he embarked on a yearlong sabbatical across the country to the very poor, with the blessing of (later Cardinal) James Hickey, then Bishop of Cleveland (who wisely counseled him to introduce himself to the local Bishop in each area he lived, to explain his journey). He was accompanied by his soul friend, Sr. Maggie Walsh-Conrad and some others. They began at Christ Monastery in the Desert, New Mexico with a six-week time of prayer and silence; then on to Kansas City, New York—the South Bronx, the migrant workers in Rochelle, Illinois, Appalachia, and six weeks with the Native Americans (learning from the wisdom of the Navajo and Hopi people) in Albuquerque, New Mexico; then to Cape Cod for the last eight weeks.

In Kansas City, they lived near a community founded by Fr. Jim Flanagan of lay men and women (living separately) in a semi-monastic setting of poverty, the Society of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity (SOLT). For the six months of Lent, they lived in a flophouse hotel, and walked with SOLT members to folks just “getting by,” others just out of prison, etc. He meditated on the life of Charles de Foucauld, who after his conversion, and becoming a priest, joined a Carthusian monastery in France. But it was not strict enough for him, and had no direct contact with the poor, so he searched further. Charles lived as a gardener for some nuns in Nazareth, and from that humble work, he discerned a call to return to Algeria, where he had served as a soldier. He lived there among the Tuareg tribe as a hermit, until he was shot to death in 1916 in a kidnap attempt gone wrong. His dear Muslim neighbors were devastated.

Fr. Jim, during his discernment year, also met with the Little Brothers and Sisters of Jesus, who like Brother Charles, were close in being companions to the poor. (Even though Charles was a priest, he did not want to use the title of “Father,” and insisted on being called “Little Brother.”) Charles wanted to live a “simple life” in a “simple way.”

The next “live-in” was in the Bronx, New York, where Fr. Jim and his companions experienced “reverse discrimination.” Why was this band of white folk living in an all-black, rather dangerous neighborhood? They were helped by a wonderful bishop in Harlem, Bishop Emerson Moore. He was one of the first Black bishops in the country, but he felt like a “token-black.” He was deeply affected and depressed by racism. He greatly guided Fr. Jim. It was Easter time—an experience of rising up.

Then on to the mountains of Appalachia for six weeks, where “King Coal” ruled. The coal mine barons had bought up all available property and housing and ran the “company store.” Everything the miners needed, and housing had to be purchased at an exorbitant price. So what seemed like good wages for coal miners, kept them in poverty, without decent food and living conditions. Jim remembers them not being able to drink the water in town, and would either have to buy water, or trek up into the mountains to carry it down by hand. Ministering to these people in the mountains was a life-changing experience for him.

The next step sounds like a luxury vacation, but their time in Cape Cod was in a house off-season with no good heat source. It was loaned to them by relatives of Fr. Flanagan from Kansas City. For two months they prayed and reflected on their experiences.

When back in Cleveland in 1977, he and Maggie rented a cheap house on East 35th St. in the Central area (near Hough, where riots had taken place in 1966, when four African Americans were killed and 50 people were injured). In this distressed area in the poorest neighborhood of Cleveland, Fr. Jim sees parallels with the experience of “Brother Charles” and the Tuareg people in Algeria, who were not at all friendly when he moved in. But when the neighbors saw Jim, like Brother Charles, praying silently before the Eucharist each morning from 6-7 am, and befriending them as a good neighbor, they began to talk to him, then seek his friendship and holy advice. Just like Brother Charles, the neighborhood began to recognize him as a “marabout” – a holy man. In the Diocese, he branded his presence as “Ministry With the Poor” (not to the poor). After a while, there were so many visitors, he had little time to himself. Brother Charles had not only his Muslim neighbors, but also garrisoned French soldiers coming to him for spiritual direction. Some of them had known Charles as a very unholy French soldier!

Fr. Jim reflects on some of the inspirations of those days. He read John Howard Griffin’s book, Black Like Me, then Jim met this man who for six months dyed his skin black to feel the prejudice personally. Fr. Jim became a dear friend and was influenced by Griffin. He also found (Fr.) Thomas Merton a great inspiration, the famous Trappist monk of Gethsemane Abbey in Kentucky, who lived in a hermitage, taught contemplative prayer, wrote many popular books, and opposed the Vietnam War.

Fr. Jim followed the advice of Griffin not to initially introduce himself as a priest, but as a religious person. If they tell you to leave—then leave. There was even a movement to get rid of him and Maggie. But a woman said: “Be careful, they may be angels in disguise!” And they asked him to stay. Fr. Jim remembers the moment his new vocation was confirmed with certainty. A man had just gotten sober, and as a recovering alcoholic, said to him: “I know for sure God loves me, because he sent you here.”

For forty years, Fr. Jim continued this ministry, along with “Sister” Maggie, who became a “consecrated virgin” in the Diocese. They took the name of “The Little Brothers and Sisters of the Eucharist.” After a couple of “trial” years, on December 8, 1980, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop Anthony Pilla received her private vows at the Cathedral at the Blessed Mother Shrine, and blessed her in an Act of Consecration to her ministry.

Jim and Maggie lived a joy-filled life with their good neighbors. Yet Fr. Jim mentions the great sadness he and Sr. Maggie felt at the dysfunction in the neighborhood, with some children seeing their parents “nearly killing each other,” perhaps because of alcohol or drugs. As a response, Maggie became a licensed foster parent in order to assist and help some of those children and their families. Over a ten-year period, Maggie and Fr. Jim shared their home with fifteen children from various families and neighborhoods. Eventually Maggie became an adoptive mom to three of those children who needed a more stable and nurturing environment since transitioning back to their birth families was not an option. While Maggie held the legal and primary role as their mother, Fr. Jim assumed a role as their father and became their “abba” or spiritual father and friend.

In more recent years, the home in Central was not the right location for the education of their adopted children, so they moved to a different neighborhood in Cleveland, where their son Martin graduated from St. Edward High School. He later passed his exam to be a realtor. Their daughter Caroline attended an Art school. Meanwhile, their oldest daughter Josie is an adult and has blessed them with two beautiful grandchildren, Angel and James. Fr. Jim says that the bishops in Cleveland have all been very supportive of his ministry, and his role as father and “abba” to the children.

Fr. Jim has been such a blessing. He is spiritual director to many priests and laity. He has visited the women’s prison in downtown Cleveland, for Mass and accompaniment, over many years. He keeps touch with the Little Brothers and Sisters of Jesus, the primary “descendants” of Charles de Foucauld. They have a community in Baltimore, and Fr. Jim has also visited their house just outside Rome. He was privileged to offer Mass with the chalice of “Brother Charles,” who was beatified in 2005. Fr. Jim went there in May 2005 only to have the ceremony delayed until November. The blessed was spending more quality time with the Community without a crowd. He so rejoiced at the canonization on May 15, 2022.

Fr. Jim has now been living for several years at Ennis Court in Lakewood. He ministers to the other residents as a priest, hearing confessions, anointing them, praying with them, counseling them, and when he was in better health, celebrating Mass for them. He also hosts a monthly gathering of his priests’ support group, Jesus Caritas. He was active in the national organization of Jesus Caritas, so his priest friends from all over the United States stay in touch with him and pray for and with him in his illnesses. He was very much at peace when death comes but wanted to stay as long as God needed him here. As in the prayer of St. Charles de Foucauld, he prayed: Father, I abandon myself into your hands, do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you. I am ready for all. I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands, without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father. Amen.