author
Alexander MacDonald
1858–1941
A Gaelic-speaking Canadian priest and educator who also wrote on Catholic theology, he served as Bishop of Victoria in the early 20th century. His life joined scholarship, church leadership, and a strong connection to Nova Scotia’s Highland culture.
1 Audiobook
Stray leaves : or, Traces of travel
by Alexander MacDonald
About the author
Born on February 18, 1858, in Mabou, Cape Breton, Alexander MacDonald grew up in a Gaelic-speaking family in Nova Scotia. He studied at St. Francis Xavier College in Antigonish and later in Rome, where he prepared for the priesthood before returning to Canada.
He went on to work as a priest, teacher, and education leader, and in 1908 he became Bishop of Victoria in British Columbia. Alongside his church work, he wrote books and articles on Catholic belief and practice, which is why he appears in library catalogs and author records as well as church histories.
MacDonald died on February 24, 1941. What stands out most in his story is the mix of pastoral work, learning, and authorship: he was a religious leader, but also a writer whose published work helped carry his ideas beyond the pulpit.