Michael O'Connor (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Michael O'Connor, S.J.
(September 27, 1810 – October 18, 1872) was an Irish
-born clergyman of Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh
(1843–53, 1853–60) and Bishop of Erie
(1853).
, near the city of Cork
, in County Cork
, Ireland
. His younger brother, James
, would serve as the first Bishop of Omaha
, Nebraska
, from 1885 to 1891. He received his early education in his native town, and served an altar boy
at the Cathedral of Cloyne
. At the age of fourteen, he was sent by Bishop William Coppinger to begin his studies for the priesthood
in France
.
He continued his studies at the Urban College of the Propaganda
in Rome
. He completed his courses in philosophy
and theology
with distinction, and won a gold medal for being the first in mathematics
. Among his fellow students at the Propaganda were Paul Cullen, Francis Kenrick
, and Martin Spalding
. He finished his studies before reaching the canonical age
for ordination
, and spent the interval as a professor
of Sacred Scriptures
at the Propaganda. He earned a Doctor of Divinity
degree following a public disputation, in which he underwent the same test made by Saints Thomas Aquinas
and Bonaventure
at the University of Paris
in the thirteenth century.
of the Pontifical Irish College
in the same city. He also served as an agent of the Irish bishops with the Holy See
, and gained the friendship and esteem of both Pope Gregory XVI
and Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman. In 1834, he returned to his native country and served as a curate
in Fermoy
. He was also chaplain
at the Presentation Convent in Doneraile
and professor of dogmatic theology
at Maynooth College
.
In 1839, Bishop Francis Kenrick invited O'Connor to join the faculty of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
in the U.S. state
of Pennsylvania
. O'Connor accepted the offer, and arrived in Philadelphia later that year. He immediately assumed the chair of theology at St. Charles, of which he became president soon afterwards. In addition to his academic duties, he ministered at the missions
in Norristown
and West Chester
twice a month. He also built St. Francis Xavier Church in the Fairmount
section of Philadelphia. In 1840, he was relieved of his duties as a professor and missionary, but continued to serve as president of St. Charles.
In June 1841, O'Connor was appointed vicar general
of Western Pennsylvania
and pastor
of St. Paul's Church
in Pittsburgh. He there established a parochial school
and organized a literary society for young men.
, which was held in May 1843, recommended the erection of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
and nominated O'Connor as its first Bishop
. O'Connor subsequently went to Rome to petition Gregory XVI to revoke his appointment and allow him to enter the Society of Jesus
. The Pope, however, refused and said, "You shall be bishop first, and a Jesuit afterwards." He accepted the Pope's will and was formally appointed the first Bishop of Pittsburgh
on August 11, 1843. On the following August 15, he received his episcopal
consecration
from Cardinal Giacomo Filippo Fransoni
at the church of Sant'Agata dei Goti
in Rome.
On his return to the United States, O'Connor passed through Ireland to recruit clergy for his new diocese, obtaining eight seminarians from Maynooth College and seven Sisters of Mercy
from Dublin. He arrived at Pittsburgh in December 1843, and found 33 churches, 14 priests, and about 25,000 Catholics in the diocese. He held the first diocesan synod
in 1844, and the same year he founded a girls' academy and orphan asylum, a chapel for African American
s, the Pittsburgh Catholic
newspaper, and St. Michael's Seminary. He introduced several religious orders into the diocese, including the Benedictines
who founded St. Vincent's Abbey
.
On July 29, 1853, O'Connor was appointed the first Bishop of the newly-erected Diocese of Erie
by Pope Pius IX
. The dividing line of the new diocese ran east and west along the northern boundaries of Cambria
, Indiana
, Armstrong
, Butler
, and Lawrence Counties
, giving thirteen northern counties to the Diocese of Erie and fifteen to the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Father Joshua Maria Young
was named his successor in Pittsburgh, but Young's reluctance to accept his new charge and the petition of Pittsburgh Catholics moved the Holy See
to reverse its decision. Five months after his transfer to Erie, O'Connor was re-appointed to Pittsburgh on December 20, 1853.
In 1854, he was summoned to Rome to take part in the definition
of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception
, and it is said that changes in the wording of the decree were due to his suggestions. His health entered into a steady decline and, on the advice of his physicians, traveled throughout Europe, Asia, and North America in search of a more hospitable climate. At the end of O'Connor's tenure, the diocese contained 77 churches, 86 priests, six religious orders, one seminary, five institutions of higher education, two orphan asylums, one hospital, and a Catholic population of 50,000.
at Gorheim near Sigmaringen
on December 22. After two years in Gorheim, by a special dispensation of Superior General Peter Jan Beckx
, O'Connor was permitted to make his solemn profession of the four vows at once. He returned to the United States, and made his profession at Boston
, Massachusetts
, on December 23, 1862. He then taught theology at Boston College
, and was appointed socius to the provincial superior
of the Jesuits, a position in which he remained until his death. He took a special interest in the spiritual welfare of African Americans, and delivered lectures in many parts of the United States and Canada.
His health failing, O'Connor was sent to rest at Woodstock College
in Maryland
during the spring of 1872. He died there some months later, at the age of sixty-two. He is buried in Jesuit cemetery at Woodstock.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(September 27, 1810 – October 18, 1872) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born clergyman of Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
(1843–53, 1853–60) and Bishop of Erie
Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie is a Roman Catholic diocese in western Pennsylvania. It was founded on July 29, 1853. It is one of seven suffragan sees in Pennsylvania that make up the Ecclesiastical Province of Philadelphia, which is headed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.-...
(1853).
Early life and education
Michael O'Connor was born in CobhCobh
Cobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
, near the city of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. His younger brother, James
James O'Connor (archbishop)
James O'Connor, D.D. was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Omaha.Born in Queenstown, Ireland, he went to America at the age of fifteen. He was educated at St. Charles's Seminary, Philadelphia, and in the Propaganda College, Rome where he was ordained a priest in 1848...
, would serve as the first Bishop of Omaha
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, from 1885 to 1891. He received his early education in his native town, and served an altar boy
Altar server
An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian religious service. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell and so on....
at the Cathedral of Cloyne
Cobh Cathedral
St. Colman’s Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Cathedral located in Cobh, Ireland. It is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Cloyne.-Schedule of Mass and other services:MassWeekdays: 8am & 10amSaturday: 6pmSunday: 8am, 10am, 12noon & 7pm...
. At the age of fourteen, he was sent by Bishop William Coppinger to begin his studies for the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
He continued his studies at the Urban College of the Propaganda
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He completed his courses in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
with distinction, and won a gold medal for being the first in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. Among his fellow students at the Propaganda were Paul Cullen, Francis Kenrick
Francis Kenrick
Francis Patrick Kenrick was an Irish-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the third Bishop of Philadelphia and the sixth Archbishop of Baltimore .-Early life and education:...
, and Martin Spalding
Martin John Spalding
Martin John Spalding was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Louisville and Archbishop of Baltimore .-Early life and education:...
. He finished his studies before reaching the canonical age
Canonical age
Canonical age in Roman Catholic canon law is an age one must reach, counting from birth, when one becomes capable of incurring certain obligations, enjoying special privileges, embracing special states of life, holding office or dignity, or receiving the sacraments.Each of these human acts requires...
for ordination
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, and spent the interval as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Sacred Scriptures
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
at the Propaganda. He earned a Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree following a public disputation, in which he underwent the same test made by Saints Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
and Bonaventure
Bonaventure
Saint Bonaventure, O.F.M., , born John of Fidanza , was an Italian medieval scholastic theologian and philosopher. The seventh Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, he was also a Cardinal Bishop of Albano. He was canonized on 14 April 1482 by Pope Sixtus IV and declared a Doctor of the...
at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in the thirteenth century.
Priesthood
O'Connor was ordained a priest in Rome on June 1, 1833. He was then appointed vice-rectorRector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Pontifical Irish College
Pontifical Irish College
The Pontifical Irish College is a Roman Catholic seminary for the training and education of priests, in Rome.-Foundation and early history:Towards the close of the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII had sanctioned the foundation of an Irish college in Rome, and had assigned a large sum of money...
in the same city. He also served as an agent of the Irish bishops with the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, and gained the friendship and esteem of both Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
and Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman. In 1834, he returned to his native country and served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in Fermoy
Fermoy
Fermoy is a town in County Cork, Ireland. It is situated on the River Blackwater in the south of Ireland. Its population is some 5,800 inhabitants, environs included ....
. He was also chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at the Presentation Convent in Doneraile
Doneraile
Doneraile is a town in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. It is located on the R581 regional road 8 km east of the N20 road which runs from Limerick to Cork. It is about 12 km north of Mallow town...
and professor of dogmatic theology
Dogmatic theology
Dogmatic theology is that part of theology dealing with the theoretical truths of faith concerning God and his works, especially the official theology recognized by an organized Church body, such as the Roman Catholic Church, Dutch Reformed Church, etc...
at Maynooth College
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
.
In 1839, Bishop Francis Kenrick invited O'Connor to join the faculty of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary is the seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Named for Charles Borromeo, it is located in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania,...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. O'Connor accepted the offer, and arrived in Philadelphia later that year. He immediately assumed the chair of theology at St. Charles, of which he became president soon afterwards. In addition to his academic duties, he ministered at the missions
Catholic missions
As the church normally organizes itself along territorial lines, and because they had the human and material resources, religious orders—some even specializing in it—undertook most missionary work, especially in the early phases...
in Norristown
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
and West Chester
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
twice a month. He also built St. Francis Xavier Church in the Fairmount
Fairmount, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fairmount is a United States neighborhood in the North Philadelphia area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The name "Fairmount" itself derives from the prominent hill on which the Philadelphia Museum of Art now sits, and where William Penn originally intended to build his own manor house...
section of Philadelphia. In 1840, he was relieved of his duties as a professor and missionary, but continued to serve as president of St. Charles.
In June 1841, O'Connor was appointed vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
and pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Paul's Church
Cathedral of Saint Paul in Pittsburgh
The Cathedral of Saint Paul is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
in Pittsburgh. He there established a parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
and organized a literary society for young men.
Episcopacy
The Fifth Provincial Council of BaltimoreProvincial Councils of Baltimore
The Provincial Councils of Baltimore were councils of Roman Catholic bishops that set the pattern for Catholic organisation in the United States of America...
, which was held in May 1843, recommended the erection of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
and nominated O'Connor as its first Bishop
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
. O'Connor subsequently went to Rome to petition Gregory XVI to revoke his appointment and allow him to enter the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. The Pope, however, refused and said, "You shall be bishop first, and a Jesuit afterwards." He accepted the Pope's will and was formally appointed the first Bishop of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
on August 11, 1843. On the following August 15, he received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
from Cardinal Giacomo Filippo Fransoni
Giacomo Filippo Fransoni
Giacomo Filippo Fransoni was an Italian Cardinal who served from 1834 to 1856 as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith....
at the church of Sant'Agata dei Goti
Sant'Agata dei Goti
Sant'Agata dei Goti is a church in Rome, Italy, dedicated to the martyr Saint Agatha. It is currently the titular church assigned to Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, currently Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.-History:...
in Rome.
On his return to the United States, O'Connor passed through Ireland to recruit clergy for his new diocese, obtaining eight seminarians from Maynooth College and seven Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
from Dublin. He arrived at Pittsburgh in December 1843, and found 33 churches, 14 priests, and about 25,000 Catholics in the diocese. He held the first diocesan synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in 1844, and the same year he founded a girls' academy and orphan asylum, a chapel for African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s, the Pittsburgh Catholic
Pittsburgh Catholic
The Pittsburgh Catholic is the weekly Catholic newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, published for lay people and priests. It labels itself as the oldest Catholic newspaper in continuous publication. The newspaper was established in 1844, by Rt. Rev. Michael O'Connor, D.D...
newspaper, and St. Michael's Seminary. He introduced several religious orders into the diocese, including the Benedictines
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
who founded St. Vincent's Abbey
Saint Vincent Archabbey
Saint Vincent Archabbey, was founded in 1846 by Father Boniface Wimmer, OSB, and is the oldest Benedictine monastery in the United States.The Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey operate and teach at Saint Vincent College and Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, located ...
.
On July 29, 1853, O'Connor was appointed the first Bishop of the newly-erected Diocese of Erie
Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie is a Roman Catholic diocese in western Pennsylvania. It was founded on July 29, 1853. It is one of seven suffragan sees in Pennsylvania that make up the Ecclesiastical Province of Philadelphia, which is headed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.-...
by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
. The dividing line of the new diocese ran east and west along the northern boundaries of Cambria
Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Cambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679....
, Indiana
Indiana County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 58,077 registered voters in Indiana County .* Democratic: 26,653 * Republican: 24,159 * Other Parties: 7,265 -County commissioners:*Rodney Ruddock, Chairman, Republican...
, Armstrong
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Armstrong County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,941. It is located northeast of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Armstrong County was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003.The county seat is Kittanning...
, Butler
Butler County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 174,083 people, 65,862 households, and 46,827 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 people per square mile . There were 69,868 housing units at an average density of 89 per square mile...
, and Lawrence Counties
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 91,108. The county was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003. The county seat is New Castle....
, giving thirteen northern counties to the Diocese of Erie and fifteen to the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Father Joshua Maria Young
Joshua Maria Young
Joshua Maria Young was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Erie from 1854 until his death in 1866.-Biography:...
was named his successor in Pittsburgh, but Young's reluctance to accept his new charge and the petition of Pittsburgh Catholics moved the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
to reverse its decision. Five months after his transfer to Erie, O'Connor was re-appointed to Pittsburgh on December 20, 1853.
In 1854, he was summoned to Rome to take part in the definition
Dogmatic definition
In Catholicism, a dogmatic definition is an extraordinary infallible statement published by a pope or an ecumenical council concerning a matter of faith or morals, the belief in which the Catholic Church requires of all Christians .The term most often refers to the infallible...
of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
, and it is said that changes in the wording of the decree were due to his suggestions. His health entered into a steady decline and, on the advice of his physicians, traveled throughout Europe, Asia, and North America in search of a more hospitable climate. At the end of O'Connor's tenure, the diocese contained 77 churches, 86 priests, six religious orders, one seminary, five institutions of higher education, two orphan asylums, one hospital, and a Catholic population of 50,000.
Later life and death
O'Connor resigned as Bishop of Pittsburgh on May 23, 1860. Pursuing his desire to join the Society of Jesus, he sailed for Europe the following October and entered the Jesuit novitiateNovitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
at Gorheim near Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen is a town in southern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Situated on the upper Danube, it is the capital of the Sigmaringen district....
on December 22. After two years in Gorheim, by a special dispensation of Superior General Peter Jan Beckx
Peter Jan Beckx
Peter Jan Beckx Peter Jan Beckx Peter Jan Beckx (also Pieter Jan Beckx, in French Pierre Jean Beckx, (8 February 1795, Zichem, Belgium - 4 March 1887, Rome, Italy) was a Belgian Jesuit, elected 22nd Superior-General of the Society of Jesus.-Early Years and Formation:...
, O'Connor was permitted to make his solemn profession of the four vows at once. He returned to the United States, and made his profession at Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, on December 23, 1862. He then taught theology at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, and was appointed socius to the provincial superior
Provincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
of the Jesuits, a position in which he remained until his death. He took a special interest in the spiritual welfare of African Americans, and delivered lectures in many parts of the United States and Canada.
His health failing, O'Connor was sent to rest at Woodstock College
Woodstock College
Woodstock College was a Jesuit seminary that existed from 1869 to 1974. It was the oldest Jesuit seminary in the United States. The school was located in Woodstock, Maryland, west of Baltimore, from its establishment until 1969, when it moved to New York City, where it operated in cooperation with...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
during the spring of 1872. He died there some months later, at the age of sixty-two. He is buried in Jesuit cemetery at Woodstock.