William Patrick O'Connor

William Patrick O'Connor (October 18, 1886 – July 13, 1973) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Superior in Wisconsin (1942–1946) and the first bishop of the new Diocese of Madison in Wisconsin (1946–1967).

Biography

Early life William O'Connor was born on October 18, 1886, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one of five children of Patrick and Ellen (née McCarthy) O'Connor. He received his early education at St. John Cathedral grade school in Milwaukee, and then entered St. Francis Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin in 1901.

Priesthood O'Connor was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on March 10, 1912, by Bishop Joseph Koudelka. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned O'Connor as assistant pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Milwaukee, where he remained for four years. During this time, he also studied at Marquette University in Milwaukee and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 1916. O'Connor then entered the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., but his studies were interrupted by the American entry into World War I in 1917.

In 1917, O'Connor was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Wisconsin National Guard; he then served as a chaplain with the US Army 32nd Infantry Division in France

After the end of the war in 1919, O'Connor resumed his studies at Catholic University and earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1921. In his first year as bishop, O'Connor established the Blessed Martin Guild to promote racial understanding and convert more minorities to Catholicism. He also founded Holy Name Seminary in Madison in 1965, and participated in the Second Vatican Council in Rome(1962–1965). As part of the council's reforms, he established a diocesan priest senate in 1966.

Retirement and legacy On February 18, 1967, Pope Paul VI accepted O'Connor's resignation as bishop of Madison after 21 years of service. William O'Connor died of a heart attack in Madison on July 13, 1973, at age 86.