Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., J.C.D., D.D.

BIOGRAPHY OF
MOST REVEREND DAVID MICHAEL O’CONNELL, C.M., J.C.D., D.D.
BISHOP OF TRENTON
 

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., 10th Bishop of Trenton, and former president of The Catholic University of America, was born April 21, 1955, in Philadelphia.

A priest of the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission, also known as the Vincentians, Bishop O'Connell grew up in Langhorne, Pa. He is one of four sons of the late June O'Connell, who passed away July 22, 2015, and the late Arthur J. O'Connell, who passed away Aug. 27, 2005. Bishop O'Connell's eldest brother Arthur Jr., died April 24, 2021; his two surviving brothers, Dennis and Daniel, reside in the region.   

The family were longtime members of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, Pa. He attended the parish grammar school, where he was taught by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters. Knowing from an early age that he wished to pursue the priesthood, Bishop O'Connell attended the Vincentians' St. Joseph Preparatory High School, Princeton. He continued his Vincentian education in Niagara University, New York, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy magna cum laude in 1978.

Bishop O'Connell prepared for the priesthood in Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, Pa., where he received a master of divinity degree in 1981 and a master's degree in moral theology in 1983.

On May 29, 1982, he was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Mission in Mary Immaculate Seminary by Bishop Joseph McShea of the Diocese of Allentown.

Following ordination, Bishop (then-Father) O'Connell's first assignment was as faculty member and director of student activities and at Archbishop Wood High School, Warminster, Pa., where he served from 1982 to 1985. He then pursued studies in canon law at The Catholic University of America, Washington, obtaining a licentiate in 1987 and then a doctorate in canon law in 1990. He has since received 12 honorary doctorates or other honors from various colleges and universities.

While working toward his canon law degrees, Father O'Connell also served as registrar and assistant professor of canon law, theology and philosophy in Mary Immaculate Seminary. In 1990 he joined St. John's University, Queens, N.Y., where he served in various capacities, including professor of theology and religious studies, associate dean, then academic dean of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and assistant to legal counsel. In 1994, he also spent one year simultaneously serving as interim academic vice president of Niagara University.  In addition to his academic work, Father O’Connell used his credentials as a canon lawyer to assist the Dioceses of Harrisburg, Scranton and Birmingham as a judge in their tribunals from 1987 to 1998.

In spring 1998, Father O'Connell was named the 14th president of The Catholic University of America in Washington., D.C. Among the many highlights of his presidency was the opportunity to serve as a member of the planning committee for Pope Benedict XVI's pastoral visit to the United States in April 2008 and then to host the Pope at CUA who delivered an address there to Catholic educators. During his tenure, Father O’Connell was a frequent commentator on CNN, FOX News, ABC’s “Nightline” and other national news broadcasts.  He was widely recognized for his advocacy regarding Catholic higher education.

In the fall of 2009, Father O'Connell announced his plan to retire from CUA in the summer of 2010.  CUA’s board of trustees recognized his long university service by naming a central administrative building after him.  A plaza serving the university and the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C., was also named for him in honor of his vision in helping to create a new combined retail and residential development across the street from campus.  At the request of the Archdiocese of Washington, the Holy See also bestowed on him its “Pro Ecclesiastical et Pontifices Medal.”

On June 4, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Father O'Connell as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton. He was ordained to the episcopacy by Bishop John M. Smith in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, on July 30, 2010. When Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Bishop Smith on Dec. 1, 2010, Bishop O'Connell automatically succeeded him as the 10th Bishop of Trenton.

A Broad Vision

Since becoming the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese, Bishop O’Connell has focused his efforts on the catechetical development of his flock, the sanctification and cultivation of his priests and seminarians, the advancement of new vocations and the strengthening of pro-life, marriage and family life and youth advocacy within the Diocese. The Bishop devoted special attention to the restructuring of diocesan administration in 2011, evaluating and enhancing the deacon formation program, and completing a review and updating of the statutes of the Fourth Diocesan Synod, first promulgated in 1991.

In October of 2012, as part of the “Year of Faith” proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop O'Connell convened the first Eucharistic Congress held in New Jersey, bringing together some 20,000 Catholics of the Diocese of Trenton for worship, learning and prayer. He has written extensively, including three pastoral letters and several series of essays on the tenets of faith.  He is a regular contributor to diocesan publications, podcasts and social media.  Bishop O’Connell also hosts a monthly radio broadcast – “The Shepherd’s Voice” – on Domestic Church Media’s WFJS radio station 

In addition to his active support of social service programs throughout the Diocese’s four counties, Bishop O’Connell’s efforts on behalf of the less fortunate include the mobilization of a massive relief effort for the victims of Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Following the storm, Bishop O’Connell surveyed the damage across the four counties of the Diocese, accompanied by a State Police escort, visiting parishes, schools, and relief centers.  In the Diocese, parishes and schools sustained $12.2 million in damages, with 65 parishes, schools or diocesan entities impacted and more than 160 buildings damaged. The relief effort brought in more than $1.7 million from individuals, groups, parishes, dioceses and a grant from the United States Conference of Bishops.
 

Meeting Challenges with Faith

Bishop O’Connell has been a staunch supporter of Catholic education, implementing strategic planning, leadership development and marketing efforts to build sustainability of the Catholic schools in the Diocese. Two diocesan-wide “Catholic School Sustainability Studies” – the first in 2013 and a five-year follow-up in 2018 – were produced under his leadership to develop criteria for decisions regarding the Diocese’s Catholic schools.  

With a continual show of support for Catholic schools, Bishop O’Connell launched the 'Catholic Schools Have It All,’ multi-media campaign in April of 2014. As part of a video anchoring the comprehensive campaign, which included billboard, posters, digital advertising and dedicated website, Bishop O’Connell shared his thoughts on the life-long value of Catholic schools:

“There is no substitute for what Catholic schools have to offer; an understanding of our faith and its influence on how we see and experience the world; a set of Catholic values that impact the choices we make, and a Catholic vision for life, all life, the whole of life. All of these things come to mind when I think of our days in Catholic school. But I can say without hesitation or equivocation, Catholic schools made a difference in my life. I owe my life’s direction, my vocation as a priest and now as a bishop to what I learned in word and example in Catholic School. Catholic schools have it all, and we take it with us wherever we go.”

In December 2014, Bishop O’Connell was stricken with a near fatal bone infection necessitating the amputation of his left leg.  For the following three months, the Bishop engaged in an aggressive program of physical therapy after being fitted with a prosthetic leg.  He set as a goal to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass 2015 in Cathedral, a goal he was grateful to realize.  The Bishop then returned to full, active service, resuming his ordinary, ambitious daily schedule.

Looking to the Future

In 2015, Bishop O’Connell launched two major initiatives in order to bolster the future of the Diocese.  An endowment campaign, “Faith to Move Mountains,” was conducted in parish blocks over a period of three years, and raised over $73 million for the Diocese and its ministries.

A parallel “Faith in Our Future” initiative was begun to strengthen parishes through interparochial cooperation, shared resources, and where indicated, parish restructuring. In November, 2016, after nearly two years of meetings, discussions, information gathering and evaluation, Bishop O’Connell accepted final recommendations from the Diocesan Planning Commission. Bishop O’Connell’s final decisions were made public in January, 2017, and were implemented over a three-year period involving every parish in the Diocese.

In April of 2016, Bishop O'Connell presented a proposal to the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Bishops in Rome for the elevation of St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Freehold, to the dignity of a co-cathedral. The process came to fruition on Feb. 19, 2017, when Bishop O'Connell and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, signed the "acta," the official document of elevation during Mass.  

In 2018, Bishop O’Connell issued a decree that a Year of Youth would be celebrated in the Diocese, beginning July 1, 2018, and concluding June 21, 2019.  The four-fold purpose of the year-long celebration of youth was to increase their engagement as disciples of Jesus Christ, to celebrate their gifts, to cultivate a more positive attitude about living and witnessing their faith, and to inspire parishes to encourage youth participation in the life of the parish.

The opening Mass and Youth Fest, which was held Oct. 14, drew more than 1,000 of the faithful of all ages.  Diocesan events for the Year of Youth also included the Diocesan Youth Conference, the N.J. Catholic Youth Rally, and a closing Mass on June 21, the feast of St. Aloysius, patron saint of Catholic youth, as well as a wide variety of local initiatives in parishes and schools.

October 14, 2018, was also the day the Church welcomed seven new saints – including 19-year-old Nunzio Sulprizio. This young layman is one of the first saints Bishop O’Connell would write about for his “Young Saints Series,” developed by the Bishop as part of the Year of Youth initiative. With the series, the Bishop highlighted the lives of young saints to help all youth come to know those models who might inspire them on their own journey to holiness.

Outside the Diocese, the Bishop has also served the Church through his membership on numerous institutional boards, national committees and the completion of two five-year terms as a consultor to the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education.

Bishop O’Connell continues his episcopal ministry and outreach to the clergy, religious and faithful of the four counties of Diocese of Trenton, striving to bear joyful witness to his episcopal motto “Ministrare non ministrari: to serve and not to be served.”

1. The official portrait of Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M. © 2015

2. In this Monitor file photo, Bishop O’Connell greets his mother, June, at the start of his episcopal ordination Mass on July 30, 2010, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

3. “Peace be with you,” proclaims Bishop O’Connell, stretching out his arms before nearly 8,000 teens and their chaperones as he begins the Opening Mass of the Diocese of Trenton’s Eucharistic Congress Oct. 12, 2012, in the PNC Arts Center, Holmdel. The Bishop convoked the three day congress to take place in the dawning days of the Year of Faith, proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. An estimated 20,000 faithful attended. Jeff Bruno photo

4. As soon as it was safe to travel, Bishop O’Connell visited as many parish and school communities as possible that had suffered damages as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The Bishop also had an opportunity to witness the many forms of outreach to hurricane victims taking place within parishes. In this photo, the Bishop and Msgr. Philip Lowery inspect the ripped roof of St. James School, Red Bank. Father Ariel Robles photo

5. Bishop O’Connell lays hands in blessing on soon-to-be Father James Smith during his Ordination to the Priesthood in June 2018. Craig Pittelli photo