David M. O'Connell

David Michael O'Connell CM (born April 21, 1955) is a member of the Congregation of the Mission, commonly called the Vincentian Fathers, and a past President of the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is currently the Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, in the United States.


David M. O'Connell

Bishop of Trenton
ArchdioceseNewark
DioceseTrenton
AppointedJune 4, 2010
InstalledDecember 1, 2010
PredecessorJohn M. Smith
Orders
OrdinationMay 29, 1982
by Joseph Mark McShea
ConsecrationJuly 30, 2010
by John M. Smith, John J. Myers, and Donald Wuerl
Personal details
Born (1955-04-21) April 21, 1955
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
ResidenceTrenton, New Jersey, United States
ParentsArthur J. and June O'Connell
Previous postPresident of The Catholic University of America (1998–2010)
Alma mater
MottoMinistrare non ministrai
(To serve and not to be served)
Styles of
David M. O'Connell
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Biography

Early life and education

O'Connell was born in Philadelphia, one of the four sons of Arthur J. and June O'Connell. He was raised in nearby Langhorne, Pennsylvania.[1] Feeling drawn at an early age to the Catholic priesthood, he attended the Vincentian minor seminary, St. Joseph Preparatory High School, in Princeton, New Jersey, and later received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Niagara University in Lewiston, New York, in 1978. He then studied at Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, Pennsylvania, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree (1981) and a Master of Theology degree in Moral Theology (1983).[2]

Ordination and ministry

O'Connell was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Mission by Joseph McShea, Bishop of Allentown, on May 29, 1982, in the chapel of the seminary.[2] His first assignment was as a teacher at Archbishop Wood Catholic High School in Warminster, Pennsylvania, where he also served as Director of Student Activities from 1983 to 1985. He continued his studies at The Catholic University of America School of Canon Law in Washington, DC, receiving a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1987. From 1987 to 1990, he was registrar and an assistant professor of canon law, theology, and philosophy at Mary Immaculate Seminary. He earned a doctorate in canon law from the Catholic University in 1990. He also served as an ecclesiastical judge and canonical consultant to the Diocese of Harrisburg (1987–98), Diocese of Birmingham (1987–93), and Diocese of Scranton (1988–98).[2]

Between 1990 and 1998, O'Connell served at St. John's University in New York City in various capacities. He was associate dean (1990–91) before serving as professor of theology and religious studies, academic dean, and dean of faculty (1991–98).[2] He was also associate vice president from 1995 to 1998, and assistant legal counsel from 1996 to 1998. From 1994 to 1998, he served as Acting Vice President and Dean of Niagara University.

Presidency of the Catholic University of America

He was the 14th President of the Catholic University of America from 1998 until 2010. He also became a Consultor to the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education in 2005 and was appointed as John Joseph Keane University Professor of the university in 2006.

According to the CUA, "He has been a nationally recognized spokesperson for and supporter of Ex Corde Ecclesiae and its full implementation within the Catholic academy." Under O'Connell's tenure, CUA remained under censure by the American Association of University Professors, and O'Connell did not seek to remove this sanction.

In 1998 senior members of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States needed to address new requirements from the Vatican for higher education and a requirement that some educators take an oath of fidelity to these teachings. Although many opposed the oath, O'Connell took the oath on the final day of the conference.[3]

On October 2, 2009 O'Connell announced that he was stepping down as President of the University in August 2010. On June 4, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI named him coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Trenton.

Bishop of Trenton, New Jersey

On June 4, 2010, O'Connell was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton by Pope Benedict XVI.[2] O'Connell received his episcopal consecration on July 30 from John M. Smith, the Bishop of Trenton, with Archbishops John J. Myers and Donald Wuerl serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Trenton.[4] He chose as his episcopal motto: Ministrare non ministrari, meaning, "To serve and not to be served" (Mark 10:45).[1]

As coadjutor bishop, O'Connell automatically succeeded Smith on December 1, 2010, when the Pope accepted the resignation he had already tendered, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Transparency

In August 2012, O'Connell was given records showing that a priest of his diocese, Matthew Riedlinger, had exchanged sexually explicit text messages with and tried to set up a meeting with a person he believed to be a 16-year-old boy. O'Connell removed Riedlinger from the parish where he was serving, but did not inform parishioners of the reason for his removal until a year later, when he was informed that The Star-Ledger would be publishing a story on the matter.[5]

See also

References

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
John M. Smith
Bishop of Trenton
2010–present
Incumbent
Academic offices
Preceded by
Patrick Ellis
President of the
Catholic University of America

1998–2010
Succeeded by
John H. Garvey
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