(28 June 1921-16 Jan. 1983), clergyman. (Leo A. MacDonell, Leo MacDonell, Father Leo) Born at Green Valley. Parents: John Alex (Banker) MacDonell and his wife Christena (Shoemaker) MacDonell. He was educated at St. Raphael’s in the separate school and Iona Academy, and in Montreal at the Seminary of Philosophy and the Grand Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Finnan’s, Alexandria, on 31 May 1947. (GN 6 June 1947) After a period as a curate, he was retreat master at the Retreat House, Alexandria, for three years, then was pastor at St. Margaret’s Parish, Glen Nevis, for 14 years, and rector of St. Finnan’s from Dec. 1971 to June 1979, and then pastor at Precious Blood Parish, Glen Walter, till his death. While retreat master, he built one of Alexandria’s best-known landmarks, the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, in a grotto on the grounds of the Retreat House.
Several years before he became rector (the 8th rector) of St. Finnan’s, preparations began to move the diocesan offices and the residence of the bishop to Cornwall, then in 1976, a little more than midway through his period as rector, the name of the diocese was changed from Alexandria to Alexandria-Cornwall, and Nativity Church in Cornwall was elevated to cathedral status, while St. Finnan’s also remained one of the two cathedrals of the diocese. Fr MacDonell was therefore the eighth, and last, rector of St. Finnan’s while it was the sole cathedral of the diocese. He died at Hotel Dieu Hospital, Cornwall, following hip surgery. He is buried at St. Raphael’s. He was remembered as a sociable and hard-working priest, devoted to the Mother of Christ, and ever cheerful despite wearisome problems of ill health.
GN 19 & 26 Jan. 1983, with tribute by Anna Margaret MacDonald * Macdonald, St. Finnan’s 12, 22, 24, with portrait * report on ordination, undated clipping, WSC 110