Born on March 13, 1951 in North Sydney to Cosmas Bernard and Ella Mae Young, Bernard J. O'Connor was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Antigonish at St. Pius X, Sydney Mines, on June 24, 1977 by Msgr. William Edward Power, Bishop of Antigonish.
A distinguished academic, Father Bernie held a Bachelor of Arts from St. Francis Xavier University, a Master of Arts from Creighton University, an M.Div/STB from St. Paul's University and an MCL/JCL from the University of Ottawa. He served as an assistant pastor at St. Theresa Parish, Sydney, for three years and St. Ninian Cathedral, Antigonish for one year before being sent for further study to Rome in 1981. Completing licentiate and doctorate degrees in sacred theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University under the direction of Cardinal Karl Josef Cardinal Becker SJ., who would remain O'Connor's mentor and lifelong friend, he taught at the University of Tennessee for five years where he also received a civil law degree (JD) in 1994 after which he took up a teaching position at Eastern Michigan University where he remained for ten years.
In 2004, he was called by Pope John Paul II to Rome where he was appointed as an official in the Congregation for Eastern Churches, completing his appointment in 2010. The following year he was appointed Chancellor's Visiting Professor of Law and Humanities at Indiana University, Kokomo. He was at the Graduate Theological Foundation, Mishawaka, Indiana at the time of his death.
Numerous awards over the years include an Advanced Negotiation Certificate from Harvard Law School and Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) from the Graduate Theological Foundation. He was twice named Michigan Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. Just prior to his passing he was named John Henry Cardinal Newman Professor Emeritus. Authoring two books and countless articles, he returned home to Sydney Mines each summer to visit his mother and many friends.
Following an extended illness, Fr. Bernie passed away of kidney failure on Sunday, May 10, 2015, in hospital in Mishawaka, Indiana, with friends at his side. Visitation was held at J.M. Jobes Funeral Home, Sydney Mines, on Sunday, May 17, from 2 to 4 pm. Vigil was held on Sunday evening at Holy Family Church, Sydney Mines at 7 pm., with visitation from 7 till 9 pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 pm., on Monday, May 18, 2015 at Holy Family Church, Sydney Mines, with Msgr. Brian Dunn, Bishop of Antigonish presiding. Interment followed in the parish cemetery.
A distinguished academic, Father Bernie held a Bachelor of Arts from St. Francis Xavier University, a Master of Arts from Creighton University, an M.Div/STB from St. Paul's University and an MCL/JCL from the University of Ottawa. He served as an assistant pastor at St. Theresa Parish, Sydney, for three years and St. Ninian Cathedral, Antigonish for one year before being sent for further study to Rome in 1981. Completing licentiate and doctorate degrees in sacred theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University under the direction of Cardinal Karl Josef Cardinal Becker SJ., who would remain O'Connor's mentor and lifelong friend, he taught at the University of Tennessee for five years where he also received a civil law degree (JD) in 1994 after which he took up a teaching position at Eastern Michigan University where he remained for ten years.
In 2004, he was called by Pope John Paul II to Rome where he was appointed as an official in the Congregation for Eastern Churches, completing his appointment in 2010. The following year he was appointed Chancellor's Visiting Professor of Law and Humanities at Indiana University, Kokomo. He was at the Graduate Theological Foundation, Mishawaka, Indiana at the time of his death.
Numerous awards over the years include an Advanced Negotiation Certificate from Harvard Law School and Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) from the Graduate Theological Foundation. He was twice named Michigan Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. Just prior to his passing he was named John Henry Cardinal Newman Professor Emeritus. Authoring two books and countless articles, he returned home to Sydney Mines each summer to visit his mother and many friends.
Following an extended illness, Fr. Bernie passed away of kidney failure on Sunday, May 10, 2015, in hospital in Mishawaka, Indiana, with friends at his side. Visitation was held at J.M. Jobes Funeral Home, Sydney Mines, on Sunday, May 17, from 2 to 4 pm. Vigil was held on Sunday evening at Holy Family Church, Sydney Mines at 7 pm., with visitation from 7 till 9 pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 pm., on Monday, May 18, 2015 at Holy Family Church, Sydney Mines, with Msgr. Brian Dunn, Bishop of Antigonish presiding. Interment followed in the parish cemetery.
Born on March 13, 1951 in North Sydney to Cosmas Bernard and Ella Mae Young, Bernard J. O'Connor was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Antigonish at St. Pius X, Sydney Mines, on June 24, 1977 by Msgr. William Edward Power, Bishop of Antigonish.
A distinguished academic, Father Bernie held a Bachelor of Arts from St. Francis Xavier University, a Master of Arts from Creighton University, an M.Div/STB from St. Paul's University and an MCL/JCL from the University of Ottawa. He served as an assistant pastor at St. Theresa Parish, Sydney, for three years and St. Ninian Cathedral, Antigonish for one year before being sent for further study to Rome in 1981. Completing licentiate and doctorate degrees in sacred theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University under the direction of Cardinal Karl Josef Cardinal Becker SJ., who would remain O'Connor's mentor and lifelong friend, he taught at the University of Tennessee for five years where he also received a civil law degree (JD) in 1994 after which he took up a teaching position at Eastern Michigan University where he remained for ten years.
In 2004, he was called by Pope John Paul II to Rome where he was appointed as an official in the Congregation for Eastern Churches, completing his appointment in 2010. The following year he was appointed Chancellor's Visiting Professor of Law and Humanities at Indiana University, Kokomo. He was at the Graduate Theological Foundation, Mishawaka, Indiana at the time of his death.
Numerous awards over the years include an Advanced Negotiation Certificate from Harvard Law School and Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) from the Graduate Theological Foundation. He was twice named Michigan Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. Just prior to his passing he was named John Henry Cardinal Newman Professor Emeritus. Authoring two books and countless articles, he returned home to Sydney Mines each summer to visit his mother and many friends.
Following an extended illness, Fr. Bernie passed away of kidney failure on Sunday, May 10, 2015, in hospital in Mishawaka, Indiana, with friends at his side. Visitation was held at J.M. Jobes Funeral Home, Sydney Mines, on Sunday, May 17, from 2 to 4 pm. Vigil was held on Sunday evening at Holy Family Church, Sydney Mines at 7 pm., with visitation from 7 till 9 pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 pm., on Monday, May 18, 2015 at Holy Family Church, Sydney Mines, with Msgr. Brian Dunn, Bishop of Antigonish presiding. Interment followed in the parish cemetery.
A distinguished academic, Father Bernie held a Bachelor of Arts from St. Francis Xavier University, a Master of Arts from Creighton University, an M.Div/STB from St. Paul's University and an MCL/JCL from the University of Ottawa. He served as an assistant pastor at St. Theresa Parish, Sydney, for three years and St. Ninian Cathedral, Antigonish for one year before being sent for further study to Rome in 1981. Completing licentiate and doctorate degrees in sacred theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University under the direction of Cardinal Karl Josef Cardinal Becker SJ., who would remain O'Connor's mentor and lifelong friend, he taught at the University of Tennessee for five years where he also received a civil law degree (JD) in 1994 after which he took up a teaching position at Eastern Michigan University where he remained for ten years.
In 2004, he was called by Pope John Paul II to Rome where he was appointed as an official in the Congregation for Eastern Churches, completing his appointment in 2010. The following year he was appointed Chancellor's Visiting Professor of Law and Humanities at Indiana University, Kokomo. He was at the Graduate Theological Foundation, Mishawaka, Indiana at the time of his death.
Numerous awards over the years include an Advanced Negotiation Certificate from Harvard Law School and Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) from the Graduate Theological Foundation. He was twice named Michigan Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. Just prior to his passing he was named John Henry Cardinal Newman Professor Emeritus. Authoring two books and countless articles, he returned home to Sydney Mines each summer to visit his mother and many friends.
Following an extended illness, Fr. Bernie passed away of kidney failure on Sunday, May 10, 2015, in hospital in Mishawaka, Indiana, with friends at his side. Visitation was held at J.M. Jobes Funeral Home, Sydney Mines, on Sunday, May 17, from 2 to 4 pm. Vigil was held on Sunday evening at Holy Family Church, Sydney Mines at 7 pm., with visitation from 7 till 9 pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 pm., on Monday, May 18, 2015 at Holy Family Church, Sydney Mines, with Msgr. Brian Dunn, Bishop of Antigonish presiding. Interment followed in the parish cemetery.
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