Edward P. O'Connell, SJ Oral History

Collection — Box: GTM Shared Box 14 (Compact discs/DVDs), disk: 39020030755519

Identifier: GTM-0045

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Scope and Contents

This collection contains an oral history interview conducted by John P. Williams with Edward P. O'Connell, SJ. In the three-hour interview, Fr. O'Connell took Williams on a tour of southern Maryland and spoke on the original Jesuit missions there and the foundations of US Catholicism.

Dates

Creation: 2008

Creator

O'Connell, Edward P., 1925-2010 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of the materials being used, establishing who the copyright owner is, locating the copyright owner, and obtaining permission for intended use.

Biographical Note

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Fr. Edward P. O'Connell (1925-2010) was born in the Bronx to Elizabeth M. Purcell (1903-1988) and James J. O'Connell (1891-1965). He entered the Society of Jesus at Wernersville (1943-1947) before being stationed at Woodstock (1948-1950, 1954-1957), Georgetown Preparatory School (1951-1953, Garrett Park), and Our Lady of Martyrs (1958, Auriesville). Fr. O'Connell was ordained in 1956 and took his final vows in 1959.

He was pastor of St. Ignatius' (Hill Top) and St. Catherine's (McConchie) from 1959 to 1960 and at Immaculate Conception (Mechanicsville, 1961-1966). Fr. O'Connell was next stationed at St. Joseph’s (1967, Philadelphia) and St. Ignatius (1968-1972, Baltimore). From there he was at the Church of the Gesú (1973-1978, Philadelphia), Georgetown University (1979), St. Ignatius (1980-1983, Chapel Point), Holy Trinity (1984-1985, Georgetown), and Saints Peter and Paul (1986-1992, Pittsburgh). After the Diocese of Pittsburgh was reorganized in 1992, Fr. O’Connell was moved to Corpus Christi/St. Charles Lwanga (1993-1994, Pittsburgh) followed by St. Ignatius once more (1995-2010, Chapel Point). He died at Murray Weigel Hall, Bronx, in 2010.