Most Reverend Arthur J. O'Neill, D.D.

The Most Reverend Arthur J. O'Neill, Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford, died peacefully Saturday, April 27 at his residence in Presence Cor Mariae Center in Rockford. He was 95 and recently celebrated 70 years in the priesthood. Bishop Arthur J. O'Neill was born Dec. 14, 1917, in East Dubuque to Leslie J. and Clara (Runde) O'Neill. He attended St. Mary School in East Dubuque, East Dubuque High School (1931-32) and Loras Academy in Dubuque, Iowa (1932-35). He began college studies at Loras College, Dubuque, and continued at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Md. (1937-1939) and completed his seminary studies there in 1943. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John J. Boylan on March 27, 1943 at St. James Pro-Cathedral in Rockford. He served as an associate at St. James Parish in Rockford (1943-1954) then became editor of The Observer diocesan newspaper, remaining in that position until 1968. In 1954, he became administrator at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Freeport, becoming pastor there in 1957, serving in that position until 1967 when he became pastor of then-St. Peter Church (later the Cathedral of St. Peter). His service also included being director of the Holy Name Society, head of the Diocesan Commission on Sacred Music, and service as a judge and notary of the then-"diocesan matrimonial court" (now the Diocesan Tribunal). In 1963 he was named a Papal Chamberlain with the title of Very Reverend Monsignor. Pope Paul VI appointed Msgr. O'Neill to be the Bishop of Rockford Aug. 19, 1968. He was the first native born priest of the diocese to also serve as its bishop. He chose as his episcopal motto, "Ut Omnes Unum Sint," (That All May Be One). He was ordained and installed as Bishop of Rockford on Oct. 11, 1968. He was the first Bishop of Rockford ordained using the new rite established during the Second Vatican Council. Some of the milestones of Bishop O'Neill's 26 years of service to the Rockford Diocese include establishing parishes in Crystal Lake, North Aurora, McHenry, Rockford, Roscoe and Woodstock. In 1970 he designated that St. Peter Church would be the new Cathedral for the diocese. He was the first bishop in the United States to use the new rite for the communal anointing of the sick. He established a vocation commission, a Diocesan Board of Pastoral Mediation and Arbitration, a Spanish Speaking Apostolate (now Office for Hispanic Ministry), called for a Pastoral Synod in 1974, established the Diocesan Services Program to fund diocesan apostolates and programs, established the Diocesan Investment and Loan program and the Catholic Foundation for the People of the Rockford Diocese. Bishop O'Neill served the United States Conference of Catholic bishops as a member of the Communications Committee and as a member of the United States Advisory Council. In the Rockford Diocese he established an Office of Communication and a weekly television Catholic Mass for shut-ins. He reorganized the administrative structure of the diocese dividing diocesan life into vicariates, established St. Anne Nursing Center, St. Anne Place (now known as Sienna on Brendenwood) and St. Vincent Home for the Aged in Freeport. Bishop O'Neill ordained the diocese's very first class of permanent deacons in 1975. He established Vianney Oaks retirement home for priests, and broke ground for the New Aurora Central Catholic High School and established the Ministry Formation Program. Bishop O'Neill retired as bishop on June 24, 1994. Survivors are sisters, Sister Helen O'Neill, O.P., of Sinsinawa Mound, Wisconsin and Erma Schneider of Dubuque, Iowa. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, his brother priests and the Catholic laity he served. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Ruth, Lois and brother Earl. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2013 at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Rockford with the Office of the Dead at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, May 3 at 11a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter with Most Reverend David J. Malloy, Bishop of Rockford as the main celebrant. Internment will be at St. Mary/St. James Cemetery, Rockford. In lieu of flowers, at the request of the family, memorials can be made to the Diocesan Stewardship Appeal founded by Bishop O'Neill in 1975