Fr. O’Connell was born to the late Jeremiah “Sonny” and Margaret “Peg” Lynch O’Connell on February 23, 1947, and baptized at St. Joseph Church in Mayfield, Cork, Ireland.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister Carrie Miller, who also passed away on December 1, 2024, in Ireland.
He will be deeply missed by his brothers Michael O’Connell (Shelagh) of Limerick, Ireland and Frank O’Connell (Bridie) of Cork, Ireland; sister Mary O’Connell of Cork, Ireland; nieces; nephews; grandnieces; grandnephews; great-grandniece and nephew; cousins; the Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes, Bishop of Savannah; the Most Reverend J. Kevin Boland, Bishop Emeritus of Savannah; Gigi Whaley Wong, his caregiver of over four years; and brother priests, religious, parishioners, and friends in the Diocese of Savannah.
O’Connell attended elementary and secondary schools in Cork before entering St. Patrick’s Seminary in Carlow in 1965. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Savannah at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow, on June 12, 1971, by the Most Reverend Patrick Lennon, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. The next day he celebrated his first Mass at the Poor Clares of Reparation Convent Church in Cork City, Ireland.
His first assignment in the Diocese of Savannah was as Parochial Vicar at St. John the Evangelist, Valdosta, in August 1971. He served as Parochial Vicar at St. James the Less, Savannah, from 1974–1978 and then as Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah, until 1981. His next assignment was as Parochial Vicar at St. Mary on the Hill, Augusta, until he was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Columbus, in 1984.
In 1990, he took a leave from ministry in the diocese to work with the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle, an international organization of diocesan priests who volunteer to serve in Latin America. This took him to Ecuador, where he served for five years as Parochial Vicar, then Pastor, of Nuestra Señora de Fátima, El Empalme. When he returned to the diocese, he remained active in outreach ministry to Hispanic Catholics while serving as Pastor of St. Paul, Douglas (1996–2007), St. John the Evangelist, Valdosta (2007–2013) and Holy Family, Columbus (2013–2021). He retired on June 30, 2021.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle.
The Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle
24 Clark St., Boston, MA 02109
www.socstjames.com/donate-today
A rosary and visitation for Father O'Connell will be held Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Rd, Columbus, Georgia 31907. A funeral mass will occur Friday, December 6, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Cathedral Basilica of St. John The Baptist, 222 E Harris Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401.
Father O'Connell will be laid to rest in Catholic Cemetery, 1720 Wheaton Street, Savannah, Georgia 31404.
