Canon Moss O’Connell Obituary and Funeral Details
Wednesday 29th June 2022We are sorry to share the sad news that Canon Moss O’Connell died peacefully during the night of Wednesday 15th June.
Canon O’Connell was in his 88th year, the 64th year of his Sacred Priesthood.
Maurice (known to all as Moss) was born on 20th February 1935 in Lissereen, Abbeydorney, County Kerry, and baptised on 22nd February 1935 at Abbeydorney Parish Church. Moss was educated at St Brendan’s College, Killarney and All Hallows College, Dublin. In his younger days, he was a sportsman of renown in his native Kerry.
Moss was accepted as an Ecclesiastical student for the Diocese of Salford in February 1954 and continued his studies at All Hallows.
Father Maurice O’Connell was ordained to the Priesthood at All Hallows College, Dublin on 14th June 1959.
Fr O’Connell served the Diocese of Salford in the following appointments:
1959-1965: St. Anne’s, Crumpsall Assistant Priest
1965-1972: St. John’s Cathedral Assistant Priest
1972-1979: Administrator of the Cathedral
1979-1989: St. Teresa’s, Firswood Parish Priest
1989-2016: St. Joseph’s, Reddish Parish Priest
In 1976, Canon O’Connell was appointed an Honorary Canon and in 1989 he was elected to the Cathedral Chapter.
Canon Moss retired in June 2016, residing at the former St. Teresa’s Presbytery in Firswood.
Canon O’Connell’s body will be received into St. Joseph’s, Reddish for concelebrated Mass at 7.30pm on Tuesday 5th July. Bishop John will celebrate the Requiem Mass at St. Joseph’s on Wednesday 6th July at 1pm followed by burial at Wardley Cemetery.
Please remember him in your prayers and in the celebration of Mass. May he rest in peace.
An obituary notice and funeral details will follow in due course.
