Charles James McDonnell was born on 7 July 1928 in Brooklyn, NY to parents Charles McDonnell and Josephine Healy. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and classical languages at Seton Hall University and completed his studies for priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary. Ordained as a priest on 29 May 1954, McDonnell served as assistant pastor at St. Catherine of Siena Church for eleven years before turning his interest to the military. In 1965, he entered the United States Army to serve as chaplain during the Vietnam War. He underwent airborne and special forces training and continued a military career overseas. In 1981 he was assigned as Chief of Chaplains in Europe and returned home in 1984 to serve as Commandant at the United States Army Chaplain School in Fort Monmouth, NJ. McDonnell retired from the military in 1989 holding the rank of Brigadier General and having earned several awards, including the Legion of Merit. In 1991, he was appointed Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Newark, where he was responsible for administrative duties and coordinating services of the diocese. On 15 March 1994, McDonnell was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Bergen and Essex counties until his retirement in 2004.