October 20, 2025 - Pope Leo XIV Names Bishop Mark O'Connell Bishop of the Diocese of Albany

This morning, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV announced that he has named Bishop
Mark O’Connell, JCD, as the 11th Bishop of the Albany Diocese. Bishop O’Connell has
been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston since June of 2016.
He has most recently been serving as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the
Archdiocese of Boston.

Bishop O’Connell was born June 25, 1964, in Toronto, Canada to American parents. His
family returned to Massachusetts when he was 12 years old. His father, Thomas, who
passed away in 2013, was a University Librarian first at York University in Toronto and
then at Boston College. His mother, Margaret passed away in 2018. Bishop O’Connell is
the youngest of four children. He has two brothers and a sister. His late uncle was a
Boston Priest, Rev. David Delaney ’61 and his aunt, Sr. Jean Delaney, O.P. is a
religious sister in the Dominican Order of Peace.

A graduate of Dover Sherborn Regional High School ’82, he earned degrees from
Boston College ’86 and Saint John Seminary ’90. Following his ordination to the
priesthood in 1990, he served five years at Saint Barbara Parish in Woburn, MA and two
years at Saint Mary of the Annunciation in Danvers, MA. He continued his studies in
Rome in Canon Law in 1997 and received his doctorate in Canon Law (JCD) in 2002
from the Università della Santa Croce. From 2001 to 2007 he served as Assistant to the
Moderator of the Curia for Canonical Affairs. Between 2007 and 2016 he served as
Judicial Vicar and as a member of the faculty at both Saint John Seminary and Pope
Saint John XXIII National Seminary.

After his ordination to the episcopacy on August 24, 2016, he served as pastor of Saint
Theresa Parish in North Reading, MA and as the Regional Bishop of the North Region
of the Archdiocese of Boston covering 60 parishes. He became the Vicar General and
Moderator of the Curia of the Archdiocese in 2023.

“Bishop Mark,” as he prefers to be called, stated: “I am delighted and deeply grateful to
God and the Holy Father, Pope Leo, for calling me to serve as the 11th Bishop of
Albany. I am truly honored to be your bishop and embrace this role with great joy.
Wherever this journey leads, I will walk with you, guided by the hope and peace of the
Risen Lord. I ask for your prayers and goodwill, and I pledge the same to you.”

Bishop O’Connell succeeds Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, who has served in the
Albany Diocese since April of 2014. Bishop Scharfenberger submitted his resignation
when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in May 2023. He will serve as
Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Albany until Bishop O’Connell’s installation on
December 5, 2025.

“Bishop O’Connell is a man with great depth and breadth of pastoral, canonical, and
communications skills and experience. We welcome him with open hearts and pray for
many years of good health and joyful presence among us,” said Bishop Scharfenberger
in a letter to the people of the Diocese.