St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary
Encyclopedia
St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary was a Catholic high school seminary
located in Hannibal, Missouri
in the Diocese of Jefferson City
, active from 1957 to 2002.
, installed as bishop of Jefferson City in 1956, took steps to found a high school seminary. Its doors opened in 1957, and from 1970 onward half of the priests ordained for the Diocese of Jefferson City were alumni of St. Thomas.
was assigned as Director of Students after his ordination in 1963. He became Spiritual Director in 1968 and was appointed Rector in 1970. O'Connell served as Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Jefferson City from 1969 to 1988. He was serving as Rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary when he was appointed first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Knoxville
on June 7, 1988.
In 2002, Bishop O'Connell, by then transferred to the see
of Palm Beach
, admitted that he molested at least two students in his care. He then resigned from the see of Palm Beach.
O’Connell brought Msgr. Manus Daly from Ireland to serve as dean of students at St. Thomas. Msgr. Daly taught at St. Thomas for more than 30 years, succeeding O’Connell as rector when the latter became the first bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee. Msgr. Daly was forced to resign as rector in 1995. He was then transferred to a small Catholic parish in Marceline, MO.
Father James P. McNally and Father Gary Pool were alumni whom O’Connell employed at St. Thomas and who have been identified publicly by students in their care who became their victims.
of Jefferson City wrote: "The seminary has been an important part of the diocese, but we cannot ignore the impact recent headlines will have on future enrollment, which has been in decline for some years. With only 27 students this year, the school was already economically unsustainable. The events of the past six weeks have only hurried the inevitable."
Some of the school's property was transferred to the diocese, some was given away, and the remainder was sold.
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
located in Hannibal, Missouri
Hannibal, Missouri
Hannibal is a city in Marion and Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. Hannibal is located at the intersection of Interstate 72 and U.S. Routes 24, 36 and 61, approximately northwest of St. Louis. According to the 2010 U.S. Census the population was 17,606...
in the Diocese of Jefferson City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the state of Missouri in the United States, erected on July 2, 1956 from territory taken from the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Diocese of Kansas City, and the Diocese of Saint...
, active from 1957 to 2002.
Founding
St. Thomas Seminary was established when Joseph MarlingJoseph M. Marling
Joseph Mary Marling, CPPS was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Jefferson City from 1956 to 1969.-Biography:...
, installed as bishop of Jefferson City in 1956, took steps to found a high school seminary. Its doors opened in 1957, and from 1970 onward half of the priests ordained for the Diocese of Jefferson City were alumni of St. Thomas.
Exposure of sexual misconduct
Fr. Anthony O'ConnellAnthony O'Connell
Anthony J. O'Connell is a Roman Catholic clergyman who was the first Bishop of Knoxville in Tennessee, followed by service as the third Bishop of Palm Beach in Florida.-Early life:...
was assigned as Director of Students after his ordination in 1963. He became Spiritual Director in 1968 and was appointed Rector in 1970. O'Connell served as Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Jefferson City from 1969 to 1988. He was serving as Rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary when he was appointed first Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Knoxville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville is a Roman Catholic diocese in Tennessee. It was founded on May 27, 1988 from the eastern counties of the Diocese of Nashville. This diocese covers most of East Tennessee; in addition to the see city of Knoxville, it includes Chattanooga and Johnson City....
on June 7, 1988.
In 2002, Bishop O'Connell, by then transferred to the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
of Palm Beach
Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach is a Roman Catholic diocese in Florida. It was founded on June 16, 1984.The past bishops of the diocese are:#Thomas Vose Daily #Joseph Keith Symons...
, admitted that he molested at least two students in his care. He then resigned from the see of Palm Beach.
O’Connell brought Msgr. Manus Daly from Ireland to serve as dean of students at St. Thomas. Msgr. Daly taught at St. Thomas for more than 30 years, succeeding O’Connell as rector when the latter became the first bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee. Msgr. Daly was forced to resign as rector in 1995. He was then transferred to a small Catholic parish in Marceline, MO.
Father James P. McNally and Father Gary Pool were alumni whom O’Connell employed at St. Thomas and who have been identified publicly by students in their care who became their victims.
Closing
In a letter to the priests of the diocese dated April 19, 2002, Bishop John R. GaydosJohn R. Gaydos
John Raymond Gaydos is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the third and current Bishop of Jefferson City.-Biography:...
of Jefferson City wrote: "The seminary has been an important part of the diocese, but we cannot ignore the impact recent headlines will have on future enrollment, which has been in decline for some years. With only 27 students this year, the school was already economically unsustainable. The events of the past six weeks have only hurried the inevitable."
Some of the school's property was transferred to the diocese, some was given away, and the remainder was sold.