Wentworth Hill, Parkes, etc, NSW

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Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 3 July 1875, p 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115478062:

The following changes have lately taken place in the diocese of Bathurst. [...] Priests recently arrived from Ireland:— Rev Jas. O'Donnell, Wentworth; [...]

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Obituary. Father O'Donnell., The Bathurst Times, 2 February 1925, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118035198:

The death of the Rev. Father James O'Donnell, which took place at Redfern on Saturday, removes one of the oldest and best known priests of the State. The reverend gentleman had reached the ripe age of 89 years. He was particularly well-known and loved in the Bathurst Diocese, having labored in the parishes of Hill End and Parkes.

Born in County of Cork, he studied theology at Mount Milleray and Thurles College, and was ordained in Dublin 54 years ago by the first Bishop of Bathurst. For a short period he was attached to the Bathurst parish stae, after which he was stationed at Hill End. While he was here the diphtheria scourge broke out in and around Turon, and Father O'Donnell did wonderful work amongst the sufferers. Old inhabitants of the Hill End parish have affectionate remembrance for him. Many country folk also speak of Father O'Donnell 's prowess as a horseman. From Hill End, he was transferred to Carcoar, where he remained for two years. His next appointment was to Parkes, and there he carried out his ministrations for nine years until the state of his health compelled him to retire from duty.

For the past few years Father O'Donnell had been continuously confined to his room, and death came as a happy release.

The remains of the late Father O'Donnell were brought to Bathurst on Sunday morning and placed in front of the high altar in SS. Michael and John's Cathedral.

Requiem Mass.
At 10 o'clock this morning a Solemn Office and Requiem Mass was held at the Cathedral, there being a large congregation, including many old residents of the Hill End district. Dr O'Farrell presided. Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father M. Dunne. Father E. O'Donnell (Dubbo) was deacon, Father McKeon (Rockley) sub-deacon, and Father Norton (Bathurst) master of ceremonies. Other priests present were Archdeacon Doran (Canowindra), Very Rev. Father D. O'Kennedy (Cowra), Rev. Father W. Lawler (Molong), Rev. Father J. McMahon (St. Stanislaus' College), Rev. Father T. Doran (Perthville).

Bishop's Tribute.
Dr. O'Farrell preached a panegyric in the course of which he said:—

"The life of a priest should be modelled on that of Christ himself. 'I have given you an example; as I have done, so do you likewise.' These words He spoke particularly for the clergy. And without irreverence we might indeed sum up the priestly life of Father O'Donnell as the evangelist summed up that of our Lord: 'He went about doing good to all.' Although it is 27 years since he labored in the mountain districts of Hill End, people there still speak in grateful remembrance of his many acts of kindness to the poor and suffering, and how he nursed the sick and fed the hungry, attended the orphan and consoled the afflicted. His great generous heart knew no bounds in charity; it embraced all, of every creed and class; he was indeed a friend of all people. During the great diphtheria outbreak in the Hill End district 45 years ago, when the people were so scared with terror that they feared to visit or help each other, Father O'Donnell acted the part as doctor and nurse to all alike.

It is recorded of him that he carried a bag of linseed meal to make poultices for the patients, as was customary at that time. He often carried some patients stricken with diphtheria to the Sofala Hospital on his back, and many owe their lives to his kindly attentions. During this epidemic he was often known to sleep on the bridle path in the hills with a saddle for his pillow, and his horse, as tired as himself, his only companion, indeed, on some occasions he was found asleep on horseback worn out with fatigue. His love for orphan children was a beautiful trait in his character; he used to have several little orphan boys billeted in the homes of decent people, and the kindly priest not only regularly visited and instructed them, but even paid for their support. One helpless little boy born without arms, and whose mother, I believe, still lives, was taught by Father O'Donnell to write, draw, paint and even to play marbles with his toes. On one occasion, and this was typical of his big, generous heart, he met a swagman who had needed a pair of boots for the road. Father O'Donnell took off the boots and socks he was wearing, gave them to the swagman, and continued his journey of 15 miles with his bare feet in the stirrups. But why multiply examples where we have the spirit of the apostle of the generous bush priest at his best, and it is priests like him who planted the Christian faith in all its fullness in those early days, that we have reaped the fruitful harvest to-day."

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Pioneer Priest Dead. Rev. James O'Donnell. Funeral To-Day, National Advocate, Bathurst, 2 February 1925, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159169638:

There will be widespread regret throughout the West when it is known that the Rev. Father Jas. O'Donnell passed away in Redfern on Saturday morning, at the advanced age of 89 years. Though the deceased priest labored in his ministry in various parts of the Bathurst diocese, it was in the Hill End and Parkes districts that his name will be best held in remembrance.

A native of County Cork, he studied at Mount Milleray and Thurles College, he was ordained by the first Bishop of Bathurst in Dublin, 54 years ago. After a short stay in Bathurst, he was appointed in charge of the Hill End district. Shortly after he took over his charge, an epidemic of diphtheria broke out in the Turon district, and the Rev. Fr. O'Donnell, regardless of the risk he ran, took the part of both doctor and priest. The old people of the district still tell of his herosim in those dreadful days. They tell, too, of his feats of horsemanship, and describe how when his dogs raised a kangaroo in the Turon mountains, the sportsman priest joined in the chase till the quarry was brought low. After many years in this rugged parish he spent a couple of years in Carcoar, and then Parkes. There he remained until his failing health, nine years ago, compelled him to retire from the active ministry.

During the past few years he was bed-ridden, and the end came peacefully on Saturday morning. The remains were brought to Bathurst on Saturday night, and were borne by the Catholic men, with Father Norton and Dunne, and were placed before the High Altar. There will be a Requiem Mass this morning at 10, when his Lordship, Dr. O'Farrell, will preside, and preach the panegyric. The funeral will take place immediately after to the Vault of the Mortuary Chapel in the cemetery.

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The Late James O'Donnell. Pioneer Bathurst Priest, The Catholic Press, Sydney, 5 February 1925, p 22, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107352270:

The death occurred in Sydney on Saturday of Rev. Father James O'Donnell, one of the pioneer priests of the Australian mission. His death removes an intimate connecting link with the late Bishop Quinn, the pioneer Bishop of the Bathurst Diocese. Born in Cork 89 years ago, Father O'Donnell received his education in Ireland, and was ordained in his native land. He elected to serve on the Australian mission, and came to Bathurst with Bishop Quinn, who, by the way, was consecrated in 1865. Father O'Donnell was modest to a degree, and little could be gleaned even by those who knew him well concerning the early phases of his ministry, all of which was passed in the Bathurst Diocese. For 22 years he was associated with the Ven. Archdeacon Campion, at Parkes, and was at one time the parish priest of the Hill End district. He retired from active ministry some 10 or 11 years ago, and, living privately in Cleveland-street, Redfern, he celebrated his golden jubilee a little over a month ago, when he was the recipient of numerous messages of congratulation. [...] Preaching at the High Mass, Dr. O'Farrell paid an eloquent and impressive tribute to the deceased priest. [...] We are gathered this morning to pay our last tribute of respect and fraternal love to a brother priest, a great pioneer, and a true apostle of the bush. Father O'Donnell was born at Glanworth, County Cork, in the year 1836. He studied in the Abbey of Mt. Melleray, and in St. Patrick's College, Thurles. In his 38th year he was ordained a priest by Dr. Quinn, the first Bishop of Bathurst, on the Feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury, at Milltown Park, Dublin, in the year 1874. Soon after arriving in Australia in 1875, Father O'Donnell was appointed for a short period to Bathurst. Afterwards he succeeded Father Nugent as priest-in-charge at Hill End, where he remained for 14 years. After two years spent in Carcoar, he was then appointed to Parkes, where he remained till 1915. He spent the remaining nine years of his life in retirement in feeble health in Sydney, and during the last few years he was bedridden. He was regularly and faithfully attended by the clergy of Redfern, who gave him Holy Communion regularly during his prolonged illness, and administered the Last Sacraments to the dying priest at the end of his life. [...]