Dennis J. O'Donovan

Rev. Dennis J. O'Donovan{{efn|His last name was sometimes spelled "Donovan."}} (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.

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. Many in the congregation had been unhappy with Brennan and the week before he became the first priest to ever file for bankruptcy. The parish was also bankrupt at the time. Donovan took over for Brennan as pastor, and served until August 1888.{{sfn|Byrne|Leahy|Dowling|Young|1899|p=323}}{{sfn|Hurd|1884|p=78}} Donovan expanded and improved St. Catherine's during his time as pastor.{{sfn|Byrne|Leahy|Dowling|Young|1899|p=330}} When he resigned in 1878 due to failing health his parishioners presented him with a resolution expressing their thanks and $550.

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

In his final days he was an assistant at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

He died at the Carney Hospital on September 26, 1892, and is buried in Saint Augustine Chapel and Cemetery.{{sfn|Sullivan|1895|p=81}} His funeral was attended by more than 100 priests.

Notes

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite news | url = https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/430780727/ | title = Studying Erin's Own Language | newspaper = The Boston Globe | date = May 1, 1898 | access-date = September 21, 2019 | page = 15 }}

{{cite news | url = https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/428245587/?terms=%22D.J.%2BO%27Donovan%22 | title = The Vote for School Committee | newspaper = The Boston Globe | date = December 15, 1875 | page = 1 | access-date = September 21, 2019 }}

{{cite news | url = https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/428245574/?terms=%22D.J.%2BO%27Donovan%22 | title = The Democratic Nominations | newspaper = The Boston Globe | page = 4 | date = December 13, 1875 | access-date = September 21, 2019 }}

{{cite news | url = https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/428244607/?terms=%22Dennis%2BJ.%2BO%27Donovan%22 | title = Presentation to Father O'Donovan | date = July 12, 1878 | access-date = September 21, 2019 | newspaper = The Boston Globe | page = 5 }}

{{cite news | url = https://newspapers.bc.edu/?a=d&d=pilot18740725-01.2.52&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- | title = Personal | newspaper = The Pilot | volume =37 | number =30 | date = July 25, 1874 }}

{{cite book|title=Sadliers' Catholic Directory, Almanac and Clergy List Quarterly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cNLUAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA93|access-date=21 September 2019|year=1883|publisher=D.&J. Sadlier & Company|page=93}}

{{cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/825954/rev_d_j_odonovan_obit_boston_post/ | title = South Boston | date = September 27, 1892 | page = 7 | newspaper = The Boston Post | access-date = September 21, 2019 }}

{{cite book|last=Kenney|first=William F. |title=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|url=https://archive.org/details/centenaryofseeof00kenn|access-date=21 September 2019|year=1909|publisher=J.K. Waters Company}}

{{Cite news | url = https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/428218443/?terms=%22rev.%2Bjohn%2Bp.%2Bbrennan%22 | title = Dedham | newspaper = The Boston Globe | date = January 15, 1877 | page = 8 | access-date = September 20, 2019 }}

{{cite news | url = https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/428226896 | title = Resignation of the Chaplain of the NInth Regiment-Distinguished Visitors | newspaper = The Boston Globe | date = September 19, 1879 | page = 4 | access-date = September 21, 2019 }}

{{cite news | url = https://newspapers.bc.edu/?a=d&d=pilot18730809-01.1.8& | title = Ninth Regiment | newspaper = The Pilot | page = 8 | date = August 8, 1873 }}

{{cite news | url = http://dedham.wickedlocal.com/news/20160421/parish-looks-to-origins-as-members-celebrate-anniversary# | title = Parish looks to origins as members celebrate anniversary | first = Paula | last = Vogler | date = April 21, 2016 | access-date = October 17, 2016 | newspaper = The Dedham Transcript }}

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Works cited

{{cite book | title = Introductory | first1 = William | last1 = Byrne | first2 = W. A. | last2 = Leahy | first3 = Austin | last3 = Dowling | first4 = E. J. A. | last4 = Young | first5 = J. E. | last5 = Finen | pages = 323–324 | publisher = The Hurd & Everts co. | year = 1899 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pZdQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA323 }}
{{cite book | title = History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men | url = https://archive.org/details/historyofnorfolk00hurd | first = Duane Hamilton | last = Hurd | year = 1884 | publisher = J. W. Lewis & Company }}
{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/onehundredyearso00bost/page/n1 | title = One hundred years of progress: a graphic, historical, and pictorial account of the Catholic Church of New England, Archdiocese of Boston. | ol =24364821M | first = James S. | last = Sullivan | publisher = Illistrated Publishing Company | year = 1895 | location = Boston }}

Category:Year of birth missing

Category:1892 deaths

Category:American Roman Catholic priests

Category:People from South Boston

Category:Clergy from Dedham, Massachusetts

Category:Roman Catholic clergy from Boston