Archbishop James MacDonald, CSC, Dies at 100; Canadian Church Mourns a Life of Deep Service and Faith
St. Catharines, ON — The Roman Catholic community in Canada is mourning the passing of Most Reverend James MacDonald, CSC, Archbishop Emeritus of St. John’s, Newfoundland, who died peacefully on May 30, 2025, at the Hotel Dieu Shaver Hospital in St. Catharines, Ontario, after a lengthy illness. He was 100 years old.
A man of deep faith, unwavering commitment, and gentle leadership, Archbishop MacDonald served the Church for over seven decades. He was widely admired not only for his ecclesial accomplishments but for the warmth, humility, and grace with which he carried out his ministry.
Born on April 28, 1925, in Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia, James MacDonald was the son of Alexander MacDonald and Mary Belle MacEachern. He was one of ten siblings and is predeceased by his parents and brothers John, Bernard, and Donald, as well as sisters Anne, Patricia, and Teresa. He is survived by his sisters Marie Renaud, Joan Beaton, and many nieces and nephews who remember him as a gentle and faithful family figure whose love for God shaped every aspect of his life.
His journey in faith began in the classrooms of Whycocomagh and Queensville, Nova Scotia, and continued through high school at St. Joseph University in Memramcook, New Brunswick. After graduating, he entered the Holy Cross Novitiate in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, where he professed his first vows. He then pursued undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, and later began theological training at the Scholasticat Notre Dame de Ste. Croix in Quebec.
He was ordained a Holy Cross priest on June 29, 1953, in Woodstock, Ontario, setting forth on a long and diverse path of service that would take him from classrooms to diocesan offices, and eventually, to some of the highest roles in the Canadian Catholic hierarchy.
Throughout his career, Fr. MacDonald served in a variety of roles: as a missionary, teacher, vocation director, seminary superior, and community leader within the Congregation of Holy Cross. In 1969, he was appointed pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Waterloo, Ontario, where his pastoral care and connection with parishioners left a lasting impression.
His episcopal ministry began in earnest on February 15, 1978, when he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario. He was then named Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on August 13, 1982, where he served for nearly a decade before his appointment as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. John’s, Newfoundland, on February 2, 1991. He led the archdiocese with quiet dignity and a servant’s heart until his retirement in January 2001.
Even in retirement, Archbishop MacDonald remained active in ministry, assisting in the Dioceses of London and Hamilton, and later moving in 2013 to the Holy Cross Community residence on Niagara Street in Welland, Ontario, where he spent his final years among fellow religious.
Throughout his life, he served on numerous committees with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), contributing to the national Church with insight and compassion. His leadership was marked not by ambition, but by a calling to serve, encourage, and uplift.
Those who knew him best speak of a man deeply rooted in the Gospel—someone who inspired others to recognize their God-given gifts and to act with courage and faith. “Archbishop James,” as he was fondly called, had a particular gift for drawing out the potential in others. “He didn’t just minister to people,” a longtime friend shared, “he allowed others to minister to him. He walked with people, not above them.”
Faithful to the mission of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Archbishop MacDonald strived, as its founder once urged, “to make God known, loved, and served.” His life was a testament to that vision—one of faithful witness, deep prayer, and constant readiness to serve.
Funeral Arrangements
Visitation will be held at the Parish Community of St. Kevin, located at 303 Niagara Street in Welland, Ontario, on Friday, June 6, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., with Vigil Prayers at 7:15 p.m., followed by continued visitation until 9:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, June 7, at 11:00 a.m., also at St. Kevin’s Parish. Archbishop MacDonald will be laid to rest at the Holy Cross Community plot in Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family and the Holy Cross Community request that donations be made to Holy Cross Missions or to a charity of your choice, in honor of Archbishop James MacDonald’s lifelong commitment to service.
As the Church in Canada bids farewell to one of its faithful shepherds, it also celebrates the life of a man who gave all he had in service of Christ and His people. Archbishop James MacDonald’s memory will live on in the countless lives he touched, and his spirit will continue to guide those who follow in his footsteps of quiet, unwavering faith.