“I am humbled by the support of my brother bishops and I hope and pray I can be of service to the Church and its educational mission.”

So said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., upon learning that he was elected chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education Nov. 14.

Catholic bishops from throughout the United States are gathering in Baltimore for their fall plenary assembly from Nov. 13-16 during which they will have time for prayer, Mass and to discuss and vote on a number of issues pertaining to the Church in the United States. A high point of the assembly will be the bishops electing a new secretary and chairmen for six standing committees, of which the Committee on Catholic Education is one.

According to the USCCB website, the Committee on Catholic Education “provides guidance for the educational mission of the Church in the United States in all its institutional settings. …The scope of the committee’s work includes Catholic elementary and secondary schools, Catholic colleges and universities, and college campus ministry. The committee advocates for federal public policies in education that are consistent with Catholic values and that uphold parental rights and responsibilities regarding education.”

Bishop O’Connell brings a strong background and many years of serving in the ministry of Catholic education at various levels to his new USCCB position.

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