Dennis Patrick O'Neil
Encyclopedia
Dennis Patrick O'Neil was an auxiliary bishop
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino
.
A native of Fremont, Nebraska
, Dennis O'Neil grew up in Southern California
. He attended St. John’s Seminary
in Camarillo, California and was ordained a priest
on April 30, 1966. He served in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
from 1966 to 1979. In 1979, he undertook a missionary assignment in the Diocese of Juneau
for 5 years. O'Neil became administrator and pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Los Angeles in 1984. He served on the archdiocesan clergy personnel board from 1990 to 1998, and was appointed pastor of St. Emydius parish in 1998.
On January 16, 2001, he was appointed
by Pope John Paul II
as the Auxiliary Bishop of San Bernardino
and titular bishop of Mâcon. He was consecrated
a bishop on March 27, 2001. Gerald Richard Barnes
was his principal consecrator, and Gabino Zavala
and Stephen Edward Blaire
were his principal co-consecrators.
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino is a Roman Catholic diocese centered in San Bernardino, California. It was founded on July 14, 1978, and comprises San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The Diocese of San Bernardino formerly was part of the Diocese of San Diego...
.
A native of Fremont, Nebraska
Fremont, Nebraska
Fremont is a city in and the county seat of Dodge County, Nebraska, United States, near Omaha in the eastern part of the state. The population was 26,397 at the 2010 census....
, Dennis O'Neil grew up in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. He attended St. John’s Seminary
St. John's Seminary (California)
St. John's Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary located in Camarillo, California. It is within the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The seminarians prepare for assignments in dioceses as well as religious orders. St. John's offers the Master of Divinity degree as a...
in Camarillo, California and was ordained a priest
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....
on April 30, 1966. He served in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
from 1966 to 1979. In 1979, he undertook a missionary assignment in the Diocese of Juneau
Roman Catholic Diocese of Juneau
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Juneau is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern United States, comprising the southeastern part of the state of Alaska. It is led by a prelate bishop which serves as pastor of the mother church, Cathedral of the...
for 5 years. O'Neil became administrator and pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Los Angeles in 1984. He served on the archdiocesan clergy personnel board from 1990 to 1998, and was appointed pastor of St. Emydius parish in 1998.
On January 16, 2001, he was appointed
Appointment of Catholic bishops
The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is a complicated process. Outgoing bishops, neighbouring bishops, the faithful, the apostolic nuncio, various members of the Roman Curia, and the pope all have a role in the selection...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
as the Auxiliary Bishop of San Bernardino
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino is a Roman Catholic diocese centered in San Bernardino, California. It was founded on July 14, 1978, and comprises San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The Diocese of San Bernardino formerly was part of the Diocese of San Diego...
and titular bishop of Mâcon. He was consecrated
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...
a bishop on March 27, 2001. Gerald Richard Barnes
Gerald Richard Barnes
Gerald Richard Barnes is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the second and current Bishop of San Bernardino.-Biography:...
was his principal consecrator, and Gabino Zavala
Gabino Zavala
Bishop Gabino Zavala currently serves as the Auxiliary Bishop of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is considered by some to be one of the most powerful and influential Latinos in the Church in the United States today. Born in Mexico, Zavala grew up in Los...
and Stephen Edward Blaire
Stephen Blaire
Stephen Edward Blaire is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the fifth and current Bishop of Stockton.-Biography:...
were his principal co-consecrators.