Archbishop Denis T. O'Connor, C.S.B.

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Denis T. O'Connor was born on March 28, 1841 in Pickering, Ontario. He made his classical and philosophical studies at St. Michael's College and entered the Basilian Order in 1859. He took theology with the Basilians at St. Michael's and spent his novitiate year in France. On December 8, 1863 he was ordained priest by Bishop Lynch in St. Michael's Cathedral. Father O'Connor, C.S.B. served as a professor at St. Michael's College and Superior of Assumption College, Windsor until 1890.

On July 18, 1890, Father O'Connor was elected Bishop of London, Ontario, and consecrated October l9, 1890 by Archbishop Walsh in St. Peter's Cathedral, London. Bishop O'Connor was the first Basilian priest to reach the episcopate.

On January 7, 1899, Bishop O'Connor was appointed Archbishop of Toronto, becoming Toronto's first bishop born in Ontario. Archbishop O'Connor soon became a leading figure in the question of certification for Separate School teachers and he guaranteed an equal education for Catholic children. The Archbishop strongly believed in a well-trained clergy and in the Catholic education of the laity. Newly ordained clergy were required to submit to examinations at regular intervals and older clergy attended frequent retreats and seminars. Abp. O'Connor also implemented a thorough course of religious instruction for all Catholic schools.

Due to ill health, Archbishop O'Connor resigned his See on May 4, 1908. After a long battle with Bright's Disease and diabetes, he died on June 30, 1911 and was buried in the Basilian plot at Mount Hope Cemetery.