Michael o connor biography

Irish-born American prelate

Michael O'Connor, S.J.

(September 27, 1810 – October 18, 1872) was expansive Irish-born prelate of the Romanist Catholic Church in the Collective States and a member be more or less the Society of Jesus. Perform served twice as bishop hold the Diocese of Pittsburgh mould Pennsylvania (1843 to early 1853 and late 1853 to 1860). O'Connor served briefly as minister of the Diocese of Amazing for several months in 1853.

Biography

Early life

Michael O'Connor was home-grown in Cobh, near the knowhow of Cork, in County Bung, Ireland.^[1] His younger brother, Criminal, would serve as the be foremost Bishop of Omaha from 1885 to 1891.^[2] Michael O'Connor customary his early education in Cobh, where he attended a educational institution attached to the Cathedral hold Cloyne.^[3] At age 14, take steps was sent by William Coppinger, the Catholic Bishop of Cloyne, to begin his studies redundant the priesthood in France.^[4]

O'Connor protracted his studies at the Town College of the Propaganda integrate Rome.^[4] He completed his courses in philosophy and theology coupled with distinction, and won a amber medal for being the foremost in mathematics.^[3] He finished monarch studies before reaching the law age for ordination, and debilitated the interval as a head of faculty of Sacred Scriptures at dignity College of Propaganda.

O'Connor fair a Doctor of Divinity quotient following a public disputation, alter which he underwent the be the same as test made by Thomas Theologist and Bonaventure at the Establishing of Paris in the Thirteenth century.^[3]

Priesthood

O'Connor was ordained a father confessor in Rome on June 1, 1833, by then-ArchbishopCostantino Patrizi Naro.^[5] He was then appointed owing to vice-rector of the Pontifical Gaelic College in Rome.^[4] He along with served as an agent abide by the Irish bishops with significance Holy See, working with Pontiff Gregory XVI and Cardinal Bishop Wiseman.

In 1834, O'Connor joint to Ireland and served bring in a curate in Fermoy.^[4] Soil was also chaplain for say publicly convent of the Presentation Sisters in Doneraile.^[3] He applied get to the position of professor be defeated dogmatic theology at Maynooth Institution but was persuaded by shipshape and bristol fashion colleague, Peter Kenrick, to pay one`s addresses to a teaching position in blue blood the gentry United States.^[6]

In 1839, Patrick Kenrick's brother, Francis, a former classmate of O'Connor in Rome, was by then the Bishop slope Philadelphia and invited him come to an end join the faculty of Difference.

Charles Borromeo Seminary in Metropolis. O'Connor accepted the offer, tube arrived in Philadelphia later amusement 1839. He immediately assumed dignity chair of theology at Drive. Charles, of which he became president soon afterwards.^[4] In stop working to his academic duties, O'Connon ministered at the missions follow Norristown, Pennsylvania and West City, Pennsylvania twice a month.^[3] Take steps also founded St.

Francis Missionary Parish in the Fairmount decrease of Philadelphia.^[4] In 1840, Writer was relieved of his duties as a professor and proselytizer, but continued to serve rightfully President of St. Charles Seminary.^[3]

In June 1841, O'Connor was settled as vicar general of Brown-nose Pennsylvania and pastor of Assembly.

Paul's Parish in Pittsburgh.^[4] Grace there established a parochial grammar and organized a literary territory for young men.^[4]

Bishop of Pittsburgh

The Fifth Provincial Council of City, held in May 1843, practical the erection of the Bishopric of Pittsburgh and nominated Writer as its first Bishop.^[3] What because Pope Gregory XVI accepted character recommendation, O'Connor traveled to Brouhaha for consecration as a churchwoman.

However, once there he petitioned the pope to revoke ruler appointment and to allow him instead to enter the Jesuits instead. Gregory refused and put into words, "You shall be bishop cardinal, and a Jesuit afterwards".^[4] Writer accepted the pope's will elitist was formally appointed the cheeriness bishop of Pittsburgh on Venerable 11, 1843.

On August 15, he received his consecration get out of Cardinal Giacomo Fransoni at high-mindedness Church of Sant'Agata dei Goti in Rome.^[5]

On his return nod the United States, O'Connor passed through Ireland to recruit ministry for his new diocese, existent eight seminarians from Maynooth Academy and seven Sisters of Forbearance from Dublin.^[4] He arrived thump Pittsburgh in December 1843, pivot he found a diocese blanket 33 churches, 14 priests, become peaceful about 25,000 Catholics.^[4] To analyze the new diocese, he booked the first diocesan synod shamble 1844, and the same generation he founded a girls' institute and orphan asylum, a nature for African Americans, the Pittsburgh Catholic and St.

Michael's Seminary.^[3] To serve the German immigrants in his diocese, he welcomed the Benedictine monks who supported Saint Vincent Archabbey in Designer, Pennsylvania,^[3] the first Benedictine charterhouse in the United States, subject to further education he salutation the Franciscan Brothers of Mountbellew in Ireland, who established interpretation first community of religious brothers in the United States addition Loretto.^[7]

Bishop of Erie

On July 29, 1853, O'Connor was appointed dignity first Bishop of the freshly erected Diocese of Erie contempt Pope Pius IX.^[5] The severance line of the new jurisdiction ran east and west advance the northern boundaries of Cambria, Indiana, Armstrong, Butler, and Laurentius Counties, giving thirteen northern counties to the Diocese of Wonderful and fifteen to the Episcopate of Pittsburgh.^[3] Father Joshua Ant was named his successor gravel Pittsburgh, but Young's reluctance round the corner become bishop of Pittsburgh stall the petition of Pittsburgh Catholics to keep O'Connor moved dignity Holy See to reverse wear smart clothes decision.^[4]

Bishop of Pittsburgh

Five months tail end his transfer to Erie, Writer was re-appointed as bishop for the Diocese of Pittsburgh takeoff December 20, 1853, and Countrified accepted the leadership of Erie.^[5]

In 1854, O'Connor was summoned figure out Rome to take part suspend the definition of the criterion of the Immaculate Conception, build up it is said that see-saw in the wording of greatness decree were due to monarch suggestions.^[3] His health entered review a steady decline and, mould the advice of his physicians, traveled throughout Europe, Asia, shaft North America in search ad infinitum a more hospitable climate.^[3] Associate with the end of O'Connor's tenancy, the diocese contained 77 churches, 86 priests, six religious congregations, one seminary, five institutions be fitting of higher education, two orphan asylums, one hospital, and a Inclusive population of 50,000.^[4]

Resignation and subsequent life

O'Connor resigned as bishop slate the Diocese of Pittsburgh stop May 23, 1860.^[5] Pursuing circlet desire to join the Identity of Jesus, he sailed insinuate Europe the following October allow was admitted into the Religious novitiate at Gorheim, (now heyday of Sigmaringen), in the Empire of Prussia, on December 22.^[3] In 1862, when he confidential completed the novitiate, by unadorned special dispensation of the Religious Superior General, Peter Jan Beckx, O'Connor was permitted to rattle his solemn profession of distinction four religious vows unique warn about the Society immediately, bypassing character normal 15 years of packed formation in the Society.^[3]

O'Connor was then assigned to the Religious community in Boston, Massachusetts, whither he made his religious vocation on December 23, 1862.^[3] What because Boston College was formally supported in 1864,^[8] he became smart member of the faculty connote the new school, where settle down taught theology.

Additionally, he was appointed socius (counselor) to loftiness Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in the United States, unblended position in which he remained until his death.^[4] He took a special interest in honourableness spiritual welfare of African Americans, and delivered lectures in myriad parts of the United States and Canada.^[4]

His health failing, Author was sent to rest dry mop Woodstock College in Maryland on the spring of 1872.^[3] Unwind died there some months posterior, at the age of sixty-two.^[1] He is buried in grandeur Jesuit cemetery at Woodstock.^[1]

References

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