Edward John O'Dea (November 23, 1856 – December 25, 1932) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church.

[citation needed] O'Dea was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Édouard-Charles Fabre on December 23, 1882.

He served as private secretary to Archbishop William Gross until 1892, when he became pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Portland.

[2] He received his episcopal consecration on September 8, 1896, from Archbishop Gross, with Bishops Jean-Nicolas Lemmens and Alphonse Glorieux serving as co-consecrators, at St. James Cathedral (now a proto-cathedral) in Vancouver.

[2] When he took office, O'Dea was confronted with financial difficulties, including a $25,000 debt for the construction of the cathedral in Vancouver.