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A native of Milltown, Co. Galway, and later of Dromod, County Leitrim, he served as a priest of the Diocese of Sacramento for more than 56 years.
Msgr. O’Connor, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Sacramento from September 2005 to July 2010 and of St. Joseph Parish in Elk Grove from April 1986 to August 2005, retired on July 1, 2010 and was named Pastor Emeritus of Holy Spirit Parish.
Prior to serving at St. Joseph Parish, he served as chancellor of the Diocese of Sacramento from 1980 to 1986, while in residence at St. Mel Parish in Fair Oaks. He also served as vice chancellor of the diocese from April 1973 to October of 1980, while also serving as administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish in Sutter Creek from April 1978 to October 1980.
From January 1972 to October 1980, Msgr. O’Connor served as Vice Officialis of the Tribunal, while in residence at St. Anne Parish in Sacramento. He was assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sacramento from September 1969 to February 1972, and of St. John Vianney Parish in Rancho Cordova from September 1967 to September 1969.
He was named Chaplain of His Holiness by Pope Paul VI on May 12, 1977. He most recently served on the diocese’s Presbyteral Council from 2012 to 2014 and on the College of Consultors from 2001 to 2021.
Msgr. O'Connor was born in a small town in Galway, Ireland, called Milltown, the youngest of six children born to Patrick O'Connor and Mary Catherine McGoldrick. After his father's sudden death in 1955, Mrs. O'Connor moved her family from Milltown and settled in Dromod, County Leitrim, where Mrs. O'Connor was born and raised. Msgr. O'Connor attended grade school there for one year and then enrolled at St. Jarlath College, Tuam, where he spent his high school years and graduated in 1961.
He enrolled in 1961 at All Hallows College in Dublin, where he met James Murphy (now Msgr. James Murphy of the diocese), who told him he was studying for the Diocese of Sacramento. He made a request to the seminary president that he study for the Diocese of Sacramento and was accepted.
He was ordained to the priesthood on June 18, 1967, in the All Hallows Seminary chapel by Bishop John Scanlon, an alumnus of All Hallows and a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, who became bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu.
In January 1972, Bishop Alden Bell asked Msgr. O'Connor if he would assume the leadership of the diocese's Tribunal. Later, under Bishop Francis Quinn, he served for six years as chancellor of the diocese.
Msgr. O'Connor's term as chancellor was challenging and he was involved in all matter of diocesan business. During this time, the diocese was changing and many new things were introduced, such as establishing job descriptions, pay classifications and a retirement plan for lay employees.
Msgr. Albert is predeceased by his parents, Patrick O'Connor and Mary Catherine McGoldrick; his sisters, Dorothy O'Connor and Maura O'Connor (Tuam, Co. Galway); and his brothers, Fr. Padraig O'Connor (Mountbellew, Co Galway) and John O'Connor (Chicago). He is survived by his sisters, Sr. Teresa O'Connor, SM, Marist Sisters (Eastpointe, Michigan), and Veronica Ryan (West Sussex, England).
He will be greatly missed by his sisters and his extended family: nieces Mary, Teresa, Ann, Sheila, and Paula; Catherine and Barbara; nephews Pat and Michael; Michael, Patrick, and John; grandnieces Gráinne, Sarah and Harper and grandnephews Luke; Tom, Robbie, and Tony; Michael, Gerard, Sebastian, and Hugh; and James; and great grandnieces Hazel and Róisín.
In San Francisco, Msgr. Albert is remembered by his niece, Fiona O'Connor, and nephews, Michael and Shane O'Connor.
Msgr. Albert will be sadly missed by Bishop Soto and his brother priests in California and Ireland, and religious of the diocese, his neighbours, and a wide circle of very good friends.
A Viewing will be held on Wednesday, April 24, at 4:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Church, 3159 Land Park Drive, Sacramento followed by a Vigil which will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Bishop Jaime Soto will preside at a Funeral Mass on Thursday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1017 11th Street, Sacramento. The burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Cemetery, 6509 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento.
Msgr. Albert’s Funeral Mass will be live-streamed on Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento webcam (https://www.cathedralsacramento.org/).
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