Bishop Emeritus Joseph O'Connell

Bishop Joseph O'Connell is the Titular Bishop of Sanctus Germanus and Auxiliary Bishop in the Northern Region of the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Bishop O'Connell was born in Thornbury on 10 December 1931. He attended school at St Mary's, Thornbury, St Coleman's, Fitzroy and at Parade Christian Brothers College, East Melbourne.

He was ordained a priest by Most Reverend Justin Simonds on July 28th, 1957 at St. Patrick's Cathedral. After serving in the parish of West Geelong, he then studied in Rome for three years and was awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law. On returning to Melbourne, he served in West Melbourne and Yarraville parishes. He was appointed Notary to the Diocesan Tribunal in 1962. In late 1968 he became Secretary of the Tribunal.

In March 1969 he became Episcopal Vicar for Religious.

Bishop O'Connell was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne on 31 March 1976 and appointed parish priest of Moonee Ponds and the bishop responsible for the north-western region.

On establishment of a fourth region in 1988 Bishop O'Connell became responsible for the northern region of the archdiocese. He served for many years on the national Bishops Committees for Canon Law, Clergy and Religious, Doctrine and Morals, and Justice, Development and Peace. He was a member of the Commission for the Renewal of the Code of Canon Law in 1981. He was much involved in the preparation of the new Code and its implementation after 1985.

Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop O'Connell's resignation from office at the age of seventy-five years and appointed him Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus on Monday 11th December 2006.