Oblate Father John M. O’Neill, former pastor and parochial vicar at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna, died July 9. He was a member of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province for 57 years. He retired from active ministry in 2017.
“He served in the 1990s and early 2000s as parochial vicar and then pastor at OLGC,” said Father Matthew J. Hillyard, pastor, in an email to parishioners. “Please join me in prayerfully asking God’s eternal blessing upon him.”
Father O’Neill also served at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria and St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, among other ministries in secondary education. He also was assistant to the president at De Sales University, Center Valley, Pa., and served in other parish assignments throughout the province, as well as in several internal ministries, including canonical superior at both De Sales Hall and Archbishop Wood, and as assistant provincial and director of personnel.
Father O’Neill was born Dec. 4, 1944, in Wilmington, Del., to George J. and Helen V. (McCrea) O’Neill. He entered the Oblates and professed first vows in 1964, made perpetual profession in 1967, and was ordained a priest June 9, 1973. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, and in 1973, finished his theological studies at De Sales School of Theology in Washington.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered July 14 at the Oblate Community Chapel in Childs, Md., with private interment in the Oblate Cemetery there.
In memory of Father O’Neill’s life and legacy, donations may be made to the Oblate Development Fund, P.O. Box 87, Childs, MD, 21916-0087.
