On Friday, June 3 the Holy See announced that Pope Francis named Fr. Robert P. Reed and Fr. Mark O’Connell auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Boston. On Wednesday, August 24, Bishops Elect Reed and O’Connell will be ordained at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston. As bishops, they will shepherd us and encourage a spirit of prayer, celebrate the sacred liturgy and all the sacraments for the sanctification of all people, and promote the work of peace and justice, especially for the poor and disenfranchised.
Bishop-elect Mark O’Connell pictured June 10, 2016.
Photo by Gregory L. Tracy/ The Pilot
Bishop-elect Mark O’Connell was born in Toronto, Canada of American parents, his family returned to Massachusetts when he was 12 years old. His father, Thomas who passed away in 2013, was a University Librarian first at York University in Toronto and then at Boston College. His mother, Margaret, lives at Bethany Health Care Center in Framingham. The youngest of four children and his late uncle was a Boston Priest Father David F. Delaney ’61 and his aunt is a Dominican Sister, Sr. Jean Delaney, O.P. A graduate of Dover Sherborn Regional High School ’82, he earned degrees from Boston College ’86 and Saint John Seminary ’90. Following his ordination in 1990, he served five years at Saint Barbara in Woburn and two years at Saint Mary of the Annunciation in Danvers during which time he was one of the Chaplains at Salem State. He continued his studies in Rome in Canon Law in 1997 and received his License in Canon Law (JCL) and his Doctorate in Canon Law (JCD). From 2001 to 2007 he served as Assistant to the Moderator of the Curia for Canonical Affairs. Bishop-elect O’Connell been Judicial Vicar since 2007 and is on the faculty at both Saint John Seminary and Pope St. John XXIII Seminary. The Bishop-elect is Chaplain to the Catholic Lawyers’ Guild.
Bishop-elect Robert Reed pictured June 10, 2016.
Photo by Gregory L. Tracy/ The Pilot
Bishop-elect Robert P. Reed was born in Boston, MA and is the son of the late William and Jeanne Reed and Charles Boland and the youngest of five children. Ordained to the priesthood on July 6, 1985, his first parish assignment was as parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish in Malden. Other parish assignments include, Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Norwood, Pastor of Saint Matthew Parish in Dorchester, Saint Theresa of Avila Parish in West Roxbury, All Saints Parish in Haverhill and as Pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Whitman. He was educated at Saint John’s Preparatory School and he prepared for the priesthood at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton and the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Bishop-elect Reed also holds an advanced degree in Television Management from Boston University’s College of Communication. His work at The CatholicTV Network has included serving as Director of Educational Development, Assistant Director and President. He currently serves as Cabinet Secretary for Catholic Media in the Archdiocese of Boston and is the President/CEO of iCatholic Media, Inc. He regularly assists at Corpus Christi-St. Bernard Parish in Newton and St. Bonaventure Parish in Plymouth, MA.
Information regarding their ordination can be found at Ordination2016.com/home. The ordination will be broadcast on Comcast – Ch 268, Verizon FIOS – Ch 296, RCN – Ch 85 and Charter – Ch 101.
