Bishop Mark O鈥機onnell, J.C.D, a 1986 艾可直播 College alumnus, was ordained by Cardinal Sean O鈥橫alley, O.F.M., Cap. as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of 艾可直播 on聽August 24, the Feast of St. Bartholomew, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in 艾可直播. He was ordained with Bishop Robert P. Reed, president of Catholic Television.
A native of Toronto who moved to Massachusetts at age 12, Bishop O'Connell is the youngest of four children, and the son of the late Thomas O鈥機onnell 鈥�50, who as University Librarian from 1975-85 oversaw the most dramatic expansion of 艾可直播 College library facilities in the school鈥檚 history.
All three of Bishop O鈥機onnell鈥檚 siblings also graduated from BC: Thomas 鈥�88, Margaret Mary 鈥�83, M.A. 鈥�85, and John 鈥�84. His late uncle was a 艾可直播 priest, Father David F. Delaney, and his aunt is a Dominican Sister, Sr. Jean Delaney, O.P.
Bishop O鈥機onnell earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English and philosophy at BC. Following his theology studies at Saint John Seminary, he was ordained into the priesthood in 1990. He served five years at Saint Barbara Parish in Woburn, Mass. and two years at Saint Mary of the Annunciation in Danvers, during which time he was one of the chaplains at Salem State University.
He continued his studies in Rome in canon law in 1997 and received both his license and doctorate in canon law from聽Universit谩 della Santa Croce in 1999 and 2002, respectively. From 2001 to 2007, he served as assistant to the moderator of the Curia for Canonical Affairs.
He has been Judicial Vicar since 2007, is on the 艾可直播at both Saint John Seminary and Pope St. John XXIII Seminary, and is chaplain to the Catholic Lawyers鈥� Guild.
聽In 2015, he participated in a conference at the 艾可直播 College Center for Christian-Jewish Learning that examined divorce among Catholics, Protestants, and Jews.
鈥淚 am very humbled, and overwhelmed by the Holy Father鈥檚 confidence in calling me to serve in this new role within the life of the Church,鈥� said Bishop O鈥機onnell in an archdiocesen announcement of the appointment. 鈥淚 have been an extremely blessed and happy priest for 26 years.聽 I can only trust that God will continue to allow me to be happy serving as a bishop no matter what is His plan for me.鈥�
Bishop O'Connell will become Pastor of St. Therese Parish in North Reading, Mass. in September.
For more information about the Episcopal Ordination, visit the Archdiocese of 艾可直播's .
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