Not a moment was wasted during Bishop David M. O’Connell’s March 11-14 trip to Washington, which encompassed a two-day meeting of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at USCCB headquarters; concelebration of the Mass of Installation for the new Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Washington; a visit with U.S. Congressman Chris Smith, and a special day of celebration and tribute at the Catholic University of America.
Bishop O’Connell, standing right, concelebrates the March 11 Installation Mass for Washington Archbishop, Cardinal Robert McElroy. The Mass was celebrated in the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
The Bishop attended the March 11-12 quarterly meeting of the USCCB Administrative Committee of which he is a member as chairman of the Committee on Catholic Education. The quarterly meetings gather the leadership and organizational structure of the USCCB and drive the main issues and concerns that are brought to the full body of bishops in their two yearly meetings.
Bishop O’Connell, back row, center, is shown with colleagues from The Catholic University of America.
As part of that gathering, Bishop O’Connell joined his brother bishops on the Administrative Committee March 12 in concelebrating morning Mass in the Basilica’s crypt church before conducting their second day of business.
Click here to see The Catholic University of America’s video tribute to Bishop O’Connell
Another highlight came on March 11 when Bishop O’Connell concelebrated the Installation Mass in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the new Washington archbishop, Cardinal Robert McElroy. Cardinal McElroy, the former bishop of San Diego, was named by Pope Francis on Jan. 6 to replace the retiring Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory.
Bishop O’Connell and Father Jean Felicien, the Bishop’s secretary and master of ceremonies, take a tour of the Capitol Building with Congressman Chris Smith. The Congressman hails from the Diocese of Trenton and is a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting.
Bishop O’Connell first became acquainted with Cardinal McElroy when both prelates attended the annual Vatican meeting for new bishops in Rome in 2010. Bishop O’Connell had just been named to the Diocese of Trenton, and then-Archbishop McElroy had just been appointed auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of San Francisco.
Bishop O’Connell is interviewed for a video tribute during which he reflects on his tenure as president of The Catholic University of America.
On the evening of March 11, Bishop O’Connell and his priest secretary, Father Jean Felicien, attended a reception hosted by the papal nuncio, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, to celebrate in advance the 12th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, which was observed March 13.
On March 13, Bishop O’Connell and Father Felicien participated in a luncheon meeting with New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith and his chief of staff Mary McDermott Noonan. The Bishop and the Congressman engaged in a lengthy discussion on the issue of human trafficking, a topic that is of great concern to them both. New Jersey’s Congressman Smith expressed the hope that US Catholic schools could begin to provide instruction about human trafficking in their curriculum. The Bishop planned to share that proposal with Catholic schools here when he returned home to the Diocese.
After lunch, Congressman Smith and his chief of staff gave the Bishop and Father Felicien a tour of the United States Capitol.
Bishop O’Connell was also invited to the campus of The Catholic University of America to make a videotape presentation about his 12-year tenure as president there (1998-2010).
On March 14, CUA President Dr. Peter Kilpatrick hosted a reception and dinner with 150 alumni and members of the CUA community to celebrate the 10th anniversary of “Father O’Connell Hall” on campus and to honor Bishop O’Connell’s legacy as the 14th president of the university.
Bishop O’Connell poses for a photo with Father Jean Felicien, the Bishop’s secretary and master of ceremonies, left, and Father Christopher Dayton, pastor of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, during a visit to The Catholic University of America.
The event served as a joyful reunion for Bishop O’Connell and many of his friends and colleagues from CUA. A poignant video tribute was screened, featuring memories shared by many with whom then-Father O’Connell had worked and collaborated with in making the nation’s Catholic university an institution worthy of its name.
Bishop O’Connell addressed the gathering and expressed his gratitude for their presence, love and support.