Father John O’Neill

Father John O’Neill is a native of Okeene, Oklahoma, a self-described cradle Catholic, who has lived in Tulsa since 1982.  The middle of five children, he was raised in a devout Catholic home.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Minor in Music from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK.  He also earned a Master of Arts in Catholic Thought and Life (2008), and a Master of Theological Studies from Saint Meinrad School of Theology (2009), and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction in May 2016 – all from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology.

His employment background includes retail sales and management, operational management, executive recruiting, and volunteer engagement.  After attending seminary from 2005 to 2008, he helped formalize and grow the volunteer program at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Tulsa as Coordinator, Volunteer Resources.  In almost 8 years at Catholic Charities the program grew from 500 volunteers annually to over 3,700 volunteer giving over 71,500 hours of service annually.  In 2011 he earned the designation of Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) and was also awarded the Volunteer Administrator of the Year (2011) by Volunteer Tulsa.

He has been an avid semi-professional musician, active in many church and social circles, and enjoys a good laugh. His community and church affiliated volunteer activities have included: Chairman, Community Volunteer Council of Tulsa; Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services Core Team Member; Youth Missions Organization Leader/Sponsor; Men’s Ministry Team Member and Musician at Christ the King Parish; musician for various fund raisers/events; RCIA and Religious Education Teacher for various parishes in the Diocese of Tulsa; Retreat Master; Spiritual Director and Co-leader for Retreat in Daily Life; Cursillo & ACTS Support Team Leader; Event Chair for the 4th Annual Conference on Volunteerism and Service held in November 2011.

After personal discernment and conversations with his spiritual director, he approached Bishop Edward Slattery about returning as a seminarian for the Diocese of Tulsa.  On October 22, 2015 he became an official seminarian and was assigned to St. Anne Catholic Church in Broken Arrow for Pastoral Experience.  He was ordained a transitional deacon on February 5, 2016 and ordained a priest on July 16, 2016.  His first priestly assignments include Associate Pastor of the Church of St. Benedict in Broken Arrow and the Diocesan Coordinator of Rural Outreach, a newly created office and position.  He is honored and blessed to be walking in God’s will in this way, and to serve the people of God in this moment.