Reverend Father Philip J. O'Donnell

Reverend Father Philip J. O’Donnell, age 90, of Las Vegas, passed away Friday, March 18, 2022. Father O’Donnell was born on June 10, 1931 in Queens, New York, the only child of Victoria and Michael O’Donnell. He completed his seminary studies in 1958 at St. Bonaventure University, Christ the King Seminary, and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Reno on May 15 of that year by Archbishop John O’Hara, CSC at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, PA.

Following his Ordination, Father O’Donnell pursued post-graduate studies at the Catholic University of America, Monterey Institute on Foreign Studies, UNLV and Middleton College, where he studied French and advanced composition. He was assigned to Bishop Monogue High School in Reno, where he taught French, English and Theology for many years and was well liked by his students and faculty. He was also assigned to serve the Carmelite Sisters of Reno, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Incline Village and St. Albert the Great Parish in Reno. When he had free time, Father Phil loved to exercise, and enjoyed the outdoors, snow skiing and ice skating.

In 1977 Father O’Donnell was named Pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Las Vegas where he continued his priestly ministry for 24 years and made many friends. Following his retirement in 2001, Father O’Donnell began serving as Adjunct Spiritual Director to many seminarians at Mt. Angel Abbey and Seminary in Saint Benedict, Oregon. He also celebrated Mass and heard confessions at St. Joan of Arc, St. Bridget, and Guardian Angel Cathedral. For the past several years, Fr. O’Donnell offered the Latin Mass at St. Bridget which gave him particular joy.

The Vespers service for Father O’Donnell will be Sunday, March 27th at 6:00 pm at Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas. A reception will follow at the Diocesan Catholic Center. The Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated by Most Reverend George Leo Thomas, Ph.D.,, Bishop of Las Vegas, will be offered at 11:00 am on Monday, March 28. Both liturgies will be celebrated at Guardian Angel Cathedral, 302 Cathedral Way. The Burial Service for Fr. O’Donnell will follow the Funeral Mass at Palm Cemetery, 7600 S. Eastern Avenue, at 1:00 PM. Father O’Donnell had a special fatherly love for all of his former parishioners, his “family” in Nevada. Donations in memory of Fr. Philip O’Donnell may be made to the parishes where he served as Priest and Pastor or to the Priest Retirement Fund, c/o the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas.