Pope Names CUA President Bishop
Friday, June 04, 2010
Posted by: Katie Richards
Pope Benedict XVI has named Vincentian Father David O’Connell,
President of The Catholic University of America, coadjutor bishop of Trenton,
New Jersey. As coadjutor, Bishop-elect O’Connell will
automatically succeed Bishop John M. Smith of Trenton upon his
retirement.
David O’Connell was born in Philadelphia and ordained a priest for the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) on May
29, 1982, in Northampton. Fr. O’Connell received a Licentiate of
Canon Law (J.C.L.) and Doctor of Canon Law (J.C.D.) from The Catholic University
of America, Washington, in 1987 and 1990, respectively. Fr. O'Connell has been an Active member of the Society since 1986.
Fr. O'Connell has served as President of The Catholic University of America from 1998-2010 , and has also served as an ecclesiastical
judge and canonical advisor in numerous dioceses. He is also an advisor to
committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and a consultant
to the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education.
He has chosen as his episcopal motto "Ministrare non ministrari," the Latin text
of St. Mark's Gospel (10: 45) meaning "to serve and not to be served."
Bishop-elect O'Connell explained, "This was the text used at Mass during my
ordination as a priest. It hit me in such a powerful way that I never forgot
it."
His episcopal ordination will take place in St. Mary of the
Assumption Cathedral in Trenton on Aug. 6, 2010, at 2 p.m. He has asked
Bishop Smith to be his consecrator, assisted by co-consecrators Archbishop John
Myers of Newark, New Jersey's metropolitan archbishop, and Archbishop Donald
Wuerl of Washington, chancellor of The Catholic University of America.
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