Martin J. O’Neill, O.S.A.

1910 – 1993 (February 27)

Martin John O’Neill was born June 23, 1910 in New York City to Thomas O’Neill and Alice Robinson. He had one brother and four sisters, and was baptized on July 17, 1910 at Saint Angela Merici Church in New York. He was received into the novitiate on September 11, 1930. He professed simple vows on September 12, 1931 and solemn vows on September 12, 1934. Martin received a B.A. in Philosophy from Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1935, and pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C., from 1935 to 1939. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1938 in Washington.

Father O’Neill was assigned to teach at Saint Rita High School, Chicago, Illinois, in 1939. In 1941, when the Augustinian Province or Our Mother of Good Counsel was formed, he was affiliated to this new Province. In 1942 he was assigned to Saint Monica High School Seminary, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, to teach. He was transferred in 1944 to Cascia Hall, Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he served as teacher, procurator from 1944 to 1947, and assistant headmaster from 1947 to 1959. That latter year he became rector at Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago. He was also elected to the Province Council in that year. From 1962 to 1965 he served as principal of Augustinian Academy, St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1965 Father O’Neill returned to Cascia Hall, as headmaster, a post he held until 1968. From 1968 until 1971, he was in charge of recruitment, and in 1971 he resumed teaching.

Because of failing eyesight, he gradually relinquished teaching duties at Cascia Hall. His years as a senior member of the Cascia Hall community were filled with activities and service for others. He died on February 27, 1993, following a long and debilitating heart ailment. He was 82. Father O’Neill is remembered as a caring and sensitive priest who lived the Augustinian life with a faith-filled spirit.

He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Calvary Cemetery, Tulsa.