David M. O'Connell

Styles of David Michael O'Connell
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

David Michael O'Connell, C.M., (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, D.C.. He is currently the Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, in the United States.

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.<ref name=publicaffairs /^[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).<ref name=biography /^[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.^[3] 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 in Washington, D.C., 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).^[3]

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).^[3] 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.

President 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 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 remains under censure by the American Association of University Professors, and O'Connell has not sought 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 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.^[4]

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.^[3] O'Connell received his episcopal consecration on July 30 from Bishop John Mortimer Smith, the Bishop of Trenton, with Archbishops John Joseph Myers and Donald Wuerl serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Trenton.^[5] He chose as his episcopal motto: Ministrare non ministrari, meaning, "To serve and not to be served" (Mark 10:45).^[6]

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.

See also

References

1. ↑ "Pope Appoints CUA President as Bishop". The Catholic University of America. June 4, 2010. 
2. ↑ "VERY REVEREND DAVID M. O'CONNELL, C.M., J.C.D." (PDF). Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. 
3. 1 2 3 4
4. ↑ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-53460466.html Retrieved August 27, 2009.
5. ↑ "Outgoing Catholic University president to become coadjutor of Trenton". Catholic News Service. June 4, 2010. 
6. ↑

External links

• Bishop of Trenton Bio
• Catholic Diocese of Trenton Website

Academic offices
Preceded by Br Patrick Ellis FSC	President of CUA 1998–2010	Succeeded by John H. Garvey
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by John Mortimer Smith	Bishop of Trenton 2010–present	Incumbent

Diocese of Trenton
Ordinaries	Bishops Michael J. O'Farrell James A. McFaul Thomas J. Walsh John J. McMahon Moses E. Kiley William A. Griffin George W. Ahr John C. Reiss John M. Smith David M. O'Connell
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Trenton Parishes Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Moorestown Sacred Heart Church, Trenton St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church, Medford Lakes
Education	Primary schools St. Paul's School High schools Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River Holy Cross Academy, Delran Mater Dei High School, New Monmouth Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel St. Rose High School, Belmar Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton Primary schools, independent Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart High schools, independent Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing Township
Catholicism portal