William Patrick O'Connor

William Patrick O'Connor (October 18, 1886 – July 13, 1973), was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Superior (1942–46) and the first bishop of the Diocese of Madison (1946–67).

Biography

Early years

William O'Connor was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Patrick Dennis and Ellen Anna (née McCarthy) O'Connor.^[1] He received his early education at St. John Cathedral School, and then attended Marquette University.^[2] He studied for the priesthood at St. Francis Seminary.^[2]

Ordination and ministry

He was ordained a priest on March 10, 1912.^[3] His first assignment was as assistant pastor of St. Rose Church in Milwaukee, where he remained for four years.^[2] During World War I, he served as a chaplain with the 32nd Infantry Division; he was awarded the Croix de guerre medal for bravery in action.^[1] He then furthered his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., earning his degree in 1920.^[1] He taught philosophy at St. Francis Seminary for twenty years, and was named pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Milwaukee in 1941.^[2] He became president of the American Catholic Philosophical Association in 1939.^[1]

Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin

On December 27, 1941, Pope Pius XII appointed O'Connor bishop of the Superior Diocese and he was consecrated on March 7, 1942.^[4]

Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin

On February 22, 1946, O'Connor was appointed the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of Madison, by Pope Pius XII. ^[5][6] On February 18, 1967, Bishop O'Connor retired. He died in Madison, Wisconsin.

See also

References

External links

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior

Diocese of Madison Bishops Ordinaries William Patrick O'Connor Cletus F. O'Donnell William Henry Bullock Robert C. Morlino Auxiliaries Jerome J. Hastrich George Otto Wirz Churches Cathedral St. Raphael's Cathedral Parishes St. Peter's Church, Ashton Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Beloit St. Patrick's Church, Benton St. Patrick's Church, Madison St. Bernard's Church, Watertown Historic Our Lady of Loretto Church, Honey Creek St. Augustine Church, New Diggings St. Joseph's Church, Shields St. Wenceslaus Church, Waterloo Education High Schools Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart, Madison St. Ambrose Academy, Madison Priests Paul J. Swain Catholicism Portal

Diocese of Superior Bishops Augustine Francis Schinner Joseph Maria Koudelka Joseph G. Pinten Theodore H. Reverman William Patrick O'Connor Albert Gregory Meyer Joseph John Annabring George Albert Hammes Raphael Michael Fliss Peter F. Christensen Churches Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the King Former Saint Ann's Church, Greenwood St. Francis of Assisi Mission Church, Ladysmith Priests Philip B. Gordon Catholicism Portal

Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archbishops John Henni Michael Heiss Frederick Katzer Sebastian Gebhard Messmer Samuel Stritch Moses E. Kiley Albert Gregory Meyer William Edward Cousins Rembert Weakland Timothy M. Dolan Jerome Edward Listecki Auxiliary Bishops Joseph Maria Koudelka Edward Kozłowski Roman Richard Atkielski Leo Joseph Brust Richard J. Sklba William P. Callahan Donald J. Hying Churches Cathedral Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Basilicas Basilica of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, Hubertus Parishes St. John Vianney Church, Brookfield St. John the Baptist Church, Johnsburg Gesu Church, Milwaukee Holy Trinity Church, Milwaukee Old St. Mary's Church, Milwaukee St. Adalbert's Church, Milwaukee St. Hedwig's Church, Milwaukee St. Stanislaus Church, Milwaukee St. Patrick's Church, Milwaukee Saints Peter and Paul Church, Milwaukee St. Vincent de Paul Church, Milwaukee St. Mary's Church, Port Washington St. Patrick's Church, Racine St. Joseph's Church, Waukesha Former St. John of God Church, Kewaskum St. Patrick's Church, Adell St. Augustine Church, Trenton Chapel St. Joan of Arc Chapel, Milwaukee Education Higher Education Alverno College Cardinal Stritch University Marian University Marquette University Mount Mary University Seminaries St. Francis Seminary Sacred Heart School of Theology High Schools Burlington Catholic Central High School, Burlington Catholic Memorial High School, Waukesha Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, Milwaukee Dominican High School, Whitefish Bay Marquette University High School, Milwaukee Messmer High School, Milwaukee Pius XI High School, Milwaukee St. Anthony High School, Milwaukee St. Catherine's High School, Racine St. Joan Antida High School, Milwaukee St. Joseph High School, Kenosha St. Lawrence Seminary High School, Mt. Calvary St. Mary's Springs Academy, Fond du Lac St. Thomas More High School, Milwaukee Priests Dismas Becker Fabian Bruskewitz Kilian Caspar Flasch Raphael Michael Fliss Augustus F. Gearhard James Groppi Francis J. Haas Jerome J. Hastrich James Michael Harvey David John Malloy Aloisius Joseph Muench William Patrick O'Connor Joseph Perry Augustine Francis Schinner Charles Asa Schleck Paul Francis Tanner Cemeteries Calvary Cemetery, Milwaukee Mount Olivet Cemetery, Milwaukee Catholicism Portal