Anthony O'Connell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Styles of Anthony O'Connell |
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| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Monsignor |
| Posthumous style | not applicable |
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| Denomination | Catholic Church |
|---|---|
| Senior posting | |
| See | Palm Beach |
| Title | Bishop Emeritus of Palm Beach |
| Period in office | January 14, 1999—March 13, 2002 |
| Consecration | September 8, 1988 |
| Predecessor | Bishop Joseph K. Symons |
| Successor | Seán Cardinal O'Malley |
| Religious career | |
| Priestly ordination | March 30, 1963 |
| Previous bishoprics | Bishop of Knoxville |
| Personal | |
| Date of birth | May 10, 1938 |
| Place of birth | County Clare, Ireland |
Anthony J. O'Connell (born May 10, 1938) was the third Bishop of Palm Beach, Florida. He offered his resignation as Bishop on March 8, 2002 and his resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II on March 13, 2002.
O'Connell was born in Lisheen, County Clare, Ireland and studied at Mount St. Joseph College in Cork and at Mungret College in Limerick, Ireland. Emigrating to the United States at age 20, he entered Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis.
On March 30, 1963, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri.
Following ordination, he was assigned as Director of Students at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Hannibal, Missouri. He was named Spiritual Director in 1968 and appointed Rector in 1970.
Future Bishop O'Connell served as Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Jefferson City from 1969 to 1988. He was a member of the Diocesan Commission for Personnel and President of the Priests' Senate.
He was serving as Rector of St. Thomas Aquinas when he was appointed first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Knoxville on June 7, 1988.
On September 8, 1988, O'Connell was ordained and installed as the first bishop of Knoxville. Archbishop Pio Laghi (later a Cardinal) served as Principal Consecrator with Bishop James Niedergeses and Bishop Michael McAuliffe serving as Principal Co-Consecrators.
On November 12, 1998, O'Connell was appointed the third Bishop of Palm Beach. Three and a half years later, he resigned this position after a man claimed that as a 17-year-old seminarian, he had engaged in sexual touching with O'Connell when he was rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary. When faced with the allegation, O'Connell held a press conference to admit his wrongdoing and publicly apologized to the man.
| Preceded by erected |
Bishop of Knoxville 1988–1998 |
Succeeded by Joseph Edward Kurtz |
| Preceded by Joseph Keith Symons |
Bishop of Palm Beach 1999–2002 |
Succeeded by Seán Patrick O'Malley |
