The Rev. John O'Neill, Campus Chaplain

Reverend John O'Neill: An Autobiography

I was born October 1, 1956, in Dublin, Ireland, to James and Martha O’Neill. My father was a pediatric surgeon and my mother, a resident in oncology. We were seven sons and one daughter, and I was the fourth son. The family rosary was very important and my father and mother led it every night.

Both grade school and high school were at St. Mary’s School run by the Holy Ghost Fathers. I wasn’t very good at sports but enjoyed many of the academic subjects. Our mother made the effort to have us speak both languages at home, English and Irish. The Holy Ghost Fathers were wonderful teachers, and I particularly have fond memories of several of the priests.

I started medical school in 1974 and qualified in 1981. It is only as I look back now that I realize what a privileged Catholic medical education it was. Virtually all of the Chiefs of Staff were daily communicants. For instance, the obstetricians were not only radically pro-life, but also explicit and staunch proponents of Humane Vitae.

The first year as a doctor was spent as an intern in medicine and surgery in Ireland and the next five years as a resident in surgery in Norwich and Manchester in England. The Irish and English are supposed to be ancient rivals, but I have to say I have found the English to be a wonderful and kind people.

The residency prepared me for three years as a mission surgeon (1987-1990) in the Diocese of Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. What an experience! The people were almost 100 percent Islamic and desperately poor. I cannot tell you how much I loved them. Most of my work was as a crisis obstetrician. The resources were truly minimal – I recall doing a cesarean section in the pitch dark with a religious sister holding a flashlight over my shoulder.

It was something of a relief to return to St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, as a resident in vascular surgery (1990-1993). I was very involved in the Legion of Mary and canvassing for Right to Life in our national elections. But my number was up! Sister Manus Daly, R.N. (she must be obeyed) had me in her sights. This marvelous woman ran the best emergency room in south Dublin and was feared by all who knew her, all of south Dublin! She was absolutely convinced that God meant me to be a priest, dismissing all of my objections as piffle. One day I saw her escorting, as the sole mourner, the pauper’s casket of a homeless man. I knew the time had come. That night I wrote to Bishop O’Connell and asked to be considered as a diocesan seminarian for the Diocese of Knoxville.

The intervening twelve years have flown by; two years in Conception Seminary, Missouri and four years in Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis. I was ordained to the transitional diaconate on the Feast of St. Dominic, and priest on the Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle of India. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to serve as Associate Pastor for two three-year stints, firstly at St. Jude’s in Chattanooga, and then at Holy Ghost in Knoxville.

It is good to be here at the campus. One of the greatest pleasures of the chaplaincy is that it’s all ‘priest-stuff’ all the time – performing the sacraments, visiting with students and parents, participating with students in pro-life activities, and proclaiming and teaching the faith.