Stuart O'Connell
Encyclopedia
Stuart France O'Connell SM
(born 11 May 1935) was the fifth Catholic Bishop of Rarotonga
(1996 -2011 ).
. He completed his education at St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
in 1953 and in 1954 entered Mount St Mary’s Seminary. He was professed
as a member of the Society of Mary
on February 11, 1956, at Mt St Mary's Seminary, Greenmeadows where his final profession took place in February 1959 and he was ordained a subdeacon
in December 1959.
in February 1960 and the priesthood at Saints Peter and Paul Church, Lower Hutt on July 27, 1960. After five years of teaching in New Zealand he was sent to Chanel College, Moamoa
, Samoa, in 1966 as a teacher and spiritual director. After another period teaching and studying in New Zealand, he returned, in 1975, to Chanel College as Rector
and remained there until 1982. In 1983 and 1984 he studied at the Catholic University of America where he completed his MA
. From 1985-86 he taught at Mount St Mary’s Seminary, Greenmeadows. From 1986-91 he was Vicar Provincial
, and from 1992-96 he was Provincial
of the New Zealand Province of the Society of Mary.
, Cardinal Williams and Bishop Soane Lilo Foliaki SM, Bishop of Tonga
in St Joseph's Cathedral, Avarua on 22 February 1996. In the face of a growing Catholic population (by 2011 in excess of 3,000 in a total population of about 20,000 - mainly due to immigration from the Philippines
and Fiji
) and with a complement of only seven priests (five on Rarotonga
at Avarua
, Matavera
, Titikaveka
and Arorangi
and one each on Aitutaki
, Atiu
, and Mauke
Islands), O'Connell was able to obtain priests from overseas and to augment the number of local-born priests. He was able to keep the Catholic schools, Nukutere College
, Saint Mary's School, Mauke Island and St Joseph’s School, Avarua operating, undertaking major refurbishments in the schools. During his tenure teacher pay parity was achieved for teachers in those schools so that the Cook Islands Government paid them at the same rates as their counterparts in other schools.
Society of Mary (Marists)
The Society of Mary , is a Roman Catholic religious congregation or order, founded by Father Jean-Claude Colin and a group of other seminarians in France in 1816...
(born 11 May 1935) was the fifth Catholic Bishop of Rarotonga
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suva. It was erected as the Prefecture Apostolic of Cook e Mnihiki in 1922, elevated to the Vicariate Apostolic of Cook Islands in 1948 and elevated as the Diocese of Rarotonga...
(1996 -2011 ).
Early life
O'Connell was born on 11 May 1935 in Lower HuttLower Hutt
Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Its council has adopted the name Hutt City Council, but neither the New Zealand Geographic Board nor the Local Government Act recognise the name Hutt City. This alternative name can lead to confusion, as there are two cities in the...
. He completed his education at St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
St Patrick's College is an Integrated Catholic boys' day and boarding Secondary School located in Silverstream, Upper Hutt, New Zealand. It was established by the Society of Mary in 1931 when the original St Patrick's College, Wellington was intended to be moved to a larger site more suited to a...
in 1953 and in 1954 entered Mount St Mary’s Seminary. He was professed
Profession (religious)
The term religious profession is defined in the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church in relation to members of religious institutes as follows:By religious profession members make a public vow to observe the three evangelical counsels...
as a member of the Society of Mary
Society of Mary (Marists)
The Society of Mary , is a Roman Catholic religious congregation or order, founded by Father Jean-Claude Colin and a group of other seminarians in France in 1816...
on February 11, 1956, at Mt St Mary's Seminary, Greenmeadows where his final profession took place in February 1959 and he was ordained a subdeacon
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
in December 1959.
Priesthood
O'Connell was ordained to the deaconateDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in February 1960 and the priesthood at Saints Peter and Paul Church, Lower Hutt on July 27, 1960. After five years of teaching in New Zealand he was sent to Chanel College, Moamoa
Chanel College, Moamoa
Chanel College is a Catholic co-educational college in Moamoa, Samoa. Founded in 1962 by the Marist Fathers, the school was originally a boys only boarding school,with special permission for non boarders, but later became co-educational. The first principal was Fr Bernard Doherty...
, Samoa, in 1966 as a teacher and spiritual director. After another period teaching and studying in New Zealand, he returned, in 1975, to Chanel College as Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
and remained there until 1982. In 1983 and 1984 he studied at the Catholic University of America where he completed his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
. From 1985-86 he taught at Mount St Mary’s Seminary, Greenmeadows. From 1986-91 he was Vicar Provincial
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
, and from 1992-96 he was Provincial
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 New Zealand Province of the Society of Mary.
Episcopacy
On 8 November 1995, O'Connell was appointed the Bishop of Rarotonga and was ordained by Bishop Leamy SMRobin Leamy (bishop)
Robin Walsh Leamy SM Robin Walsh Leamy SM Robin Walsh Leamy SM (born 27 July 1934, Wellington, New Zealand was ordained a priest of the Society of Mary (Marists) on 21 July 1958. He was Bishop of Rarotonga (1984–1996). He resigned from that See on 8 November 1996. On the same date he was...
, Cardinal Williams and Bishop Soane Lilo Foliaki SM, Bishop of Tonga
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tonga
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tonga in Tonga is immediately subject to the Holy See. It was erected as the Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania in 1842, had subsequent name changes in 1937 and 1957 and was elevated to the Diocese of Tonga in 1966....
in St Joseph's Cathedral, Avarua on 22 February 1996. In the face of a growing Catholic population (by 2011 in excess of 3,000 in a total population of about 20,000 - mainly due to immigration from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
) and with a complement of only seven priests (five on Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
at Avarua
Avarua
Avarua is a town and district in the north of Rarotonga Island, the national capital of the Cook Islands...
, Matavera
Matavera
Matavera is the smallest of the five districts that make up the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. It is located in the northeast of the island, to the east of the district of Avarua, and north of the district of Ngatangiia....
, Titikaveka
Titikaveka
Titikaveka is one of the five districts that make up the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. It is located in the south of the island, to the south of the districts of Ngatangiia and Avarua, and east of the district of Arorangi....
and Arorangi
Arorangi
Arorangi is one of the five districts that make up the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. It is located in the west of the island, to the northwest of the district of Titikaveka, and southwest of the district of Avarua....
and one each on Aitutaki
Aitutaki
Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araura, Ararau and Utataki, is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. It has a population of approximately 2,000. Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands. The capital is Arutanga on the west side.-Geography:Aitutaki is an "almost...
, Atiu
Atiu
Atiu, also known as Enuamanu , is an island lying at 187 km to the northeast of Rarotonga, in the Southern Islands group of the Cook Islands Archipelago.-Geography:...
, and Mauke
Mauke
Mauke is a raised atoll island, the eastern most of the Cook Islands.-Geography:...
Islands), O'Connell was able to obtain priests from overseas and to augment the number of local-born priests. He was able to keep the Catholic schools, Nukutere College
Nukutere College
Nukutere College is a Catholic secondary school located in Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It is the country’s only Catholic secondary school and has an important educational role across the archipelago of islands...
, Saint Mary's School, Mauke Island and St Joseph’s School, Avarua operating, undertaking major refurbishments in the schools. During his tenure teacher pay parity was achieved for teachers in those schools so that the Cook Islands Government paid them at the same rates as their counterparts in other schools.
Links
- Catholic Hierarchy website Bishop Stuart France O'Connell SM' (retrieved 18 February 2011).