William Aloysius O'Connor
Encyclopedia
William Aloysius O'Connor (December 27, 1903—November 14, 1983) was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Springfield in Illinois
from 1949 to 1975.
, to John and Mary (née Murphy) O'Connor. His brother was longtime Chicago newsman Len O'Connor. He attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary
from 1917 to 1922, and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary
in Mundelein
from 1922 to 1928. He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Cardinal George Mundelein on September 24, 1927. He then furthered his studies in Rome
at the Propaganda College
, from where he obtained a doctorate in sacred theology
in 1930.
Upon his return to the United States
in 1930, O'Connor served as a professor
at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary until 1935. He briefly attended New York School of Social Work
(1935-1936) before becoming superintendent
of St. Mary's Training School at Des Plaines
in 1936. He was named supervisor of Catholic Charities
in the Archdiocese of Chicago
in 1938, and president
of the National Conference of Catholic Charities in 1944. He was raised to the rank of a Domestic Prelate
in March 1946. He also served on the advisory board of the War Relief Services
in the National Catholic Welfare Council
and as director
of the USO
Council of Chicago.
On December 17, 1948, O'Connor was appointed the fifth Bishop of Springfield
by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on March 7, 1949 from Cardinal Samuel Stritch, with Bishops John Joseph Boylan
and Albert Rudolph Zuroweste
serving as co-consecrators
. He instituted the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
in 1950, initiated the Diocesan Development Fund in 1952 for missionary
work within the diocese, and founded the Diocesan Latin School in 1954 for training young men preparing to enter the priesthood. He held diocesan synod
s in 1953 and 1963. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
between 1962 and 1965, and was a member of the administrative board of the United States Catholic Conference
and Department of Health Affairs from 1969 to 1972.
After twenty-six years as bishop, O'Connor resigned on July 22, 1975. He later died after suffering a heart
seizure
at St. John's Hospital, aged 79.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the 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 Springfield in Illinois
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the south central Illinois region of the United States...
from 1949 to 1975.
Biography
William O'Connor was born in Chicago, IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, to John and Mary (née Murphy) O'Connor. His brother was longtime Chicago newsman Len O'Connor. He attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary
Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary
Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary was an American seminary preparatory school administered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago for young men considering the priesthood...
from 1917 to 1922, and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary
University of Saint Mary of the Lake
University of Saint Mary of the Lake, also called Mundelein Seminary, is the principal seminary and school of theology for the formation of priests in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, governed from Chicago, Illinois in the United States. It is recognized as the first institution of higher...
in Mundelein
Mundelein, Illinois
Mundelein is a village in Lake County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 31,064.-History:The community now known as Mundelein has been inhabited since at least 1650, when the Potowatami Indians were known to have been trading with French fur traders....
from 1922 to 1928. He was ordained
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....
to 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....
by Cardinal George Mundelein on September 24, 1927. He then furthered his studies 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...
at the Propaganda College
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:...
, from where he obtained a doctorate in sacred theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
in 1930.
Upon his return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1930, O'Connor served 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...
at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary until 1935. He briefly attended New York School of Social Work
New York School of Philanthropy
The New York School of Philanthropy was established in 1904. The School had its origins in 1898 with the first Summer School in Philanthropic Work offered in New York City. It was the first higher education program in the United States to train people in the field of social work. It began as a...
(1935-1936) before becoming superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of St. Mary's Training School at Des Plaines
Des Plaines, Illinois
Des Plaines is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It has adopted the official nickname of "City of Destiny." As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 58,720. It is a suburb of Chicago, and is next to O'Hare International Airport...
in 1936. He was named supervisor of Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a network of charities whose aim is "to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." It is one of the largest charities in the United States...
in the Archdiocese of Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
in 1938, and president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the National Conference of Catholic Charities in 1944. He was raised to the rank of a Domestic Prelate
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in March 1946. He also served on the advisory board of the War Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the U.S. bishops, the agency provides assistance to 130 million people in more than 90 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and...
in the National Catholic Welfare Council
National Catholic Welfare Council
The National Catholic Welfare Council was the annual meeting of the American Catholic hierarchy and its standing secretariat; it was established in 1919 as the successor to the emergency organization, the National Catholic War Council....
and as director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the USO
United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the U.S. military, with programs in 160 centers worldwide. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense , and has provided support and...
Council of Chicago.
On December 17, 1948, O'Connor was appointed the fifth Bishop of Springfield
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the south central Illinois region of the United States...
by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. 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...
on March 7, 1949 from Cardinal Samuel Stritch, with Bishops John Joseph Boylan
John Joseph Boylan (bishop)
John Joseph Boylan was the third Roman Catholic Bishop of Rockford, Illinois .-Biography:John Boylan was born in New York City to Edward Lawrence and Bridget Anne Boylan. He studied at La Salle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island and Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland . He entered St...
and Albert Rudolph Zuroweste
Albert Rudolph Zuroweste
Albert Rudolph Zuroweste was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Belleville from 1948 to 1976.-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He instituted the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was an association established at Rome in 1562 for the purpose of giving religious education. Its modern usage, often abbreviated CCD or C.C.D., is a religious education program of the Catholic Church, normally designed for children.-History:Until the...
in 1950, initiated the Diocesan Development Fund in 1952 for missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
work within the diocese, and founded the Diocesan Latin School in 1954 for training young men preparing to enter the priesthood. He held 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...
s in 1953 and 1963. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
between 1962 and 1965, and was a member of the administrative board of the United States Catholic Conference
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
and Department of Health Affairs from 1969 to 1972.
After twenty-six years as bishop, O'Connor resigned on July 22, 1975. He later died after suffering a heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
seizure
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain". The outward effect can be as dramatic as a wild thrashing movement or as mild as a brief loss of awareness...
at St. John's Hospital, aged 79.