We invite readers to send short stories about the ways in which their lives have been personally blessed by the life and work of priests and religious in our diocese.

By Karina Fabian

Growing up in the Diocese of Helena has made Msgr. Kevin O’Neill, V.G., the man he is today, for which he’s both humbled and grateful. He grew up in Butte and was educated by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Ann’s Grade School and by the Irish Christian Brothers at Boys’ Central. He then attended Carroll College, got a degree in philosophy and went to St. Thomas Seminary in Seattle.

That Catholic education had a big impact on his life, he said. “I’ve been blessed to have Catholic education all my life. The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Irish brothers are great ministers of education. They truly are. I owe them a lot. At Carroll, there were 25 diocesan priests that taught and great lay teachers as well. I had a great experience of the diversity of the Church in ministry.”

Msgr. O’Neill had a chance to experience great diversity in his assignments around the diocese as well. His first assignment (1977-1979) was as associate pastor of St. Rose in Dillon, which covered the largest area in the diocese with five mission churches, while his next assignment to St. Mary’s in Helena brought him back to an urban area, where the parish alone had 1,000 families.

While in Butte at St. Mary’s and St. Lawrence’s (1983-1986), he had the sad duty of closing the parishes coupled with the joy of starting a new reorganization of parishes and reopening the elementary school. He was pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Butte from 1986 to 1997, which expanded in 1988 to include being moderator of the Butte Catholic Community North, the combined parishes of St. Patrick’s, St. Joseph’s and Immaculate Conception.

In 1997, he moved to St. Matthew’s in Kalispell where the experience with the elementary school in Butte helped him with St. Matthew’s own elementary school. In 2000, he became rector and vicar general at St. Helena Cathedral in Helena.

In addition, he has served on the Carroll College Board of Trustees since 1991, and was chairman from 1997 to 2003, a duty he’s undeniably enthusiastic about. “It’s an honor serving our diocesan college. Carroll means so much to me. It’s a great institution. My time as an undergraduate there was a period of formation and discernment toward vocation, and the family that is Carroll was so supportive. They enabled you to take a critical look at your life and whether or not you are called toward ministry.

“There’s a family atmosphere, there,” he added. “It’s a homecoming whenever I go back – whether it’s for a sporting event or Mass or board meeting. I feel as if I never left Carroll.”

In 2003, Father O’Neill was given the title “Monsignor,” which he says he carries on behalf of the diocese. “It is a prelate of honor by virtue of being vicar general and rector of the cathedral. Although I am very honored, the honor is not for me to hold personally. It’s the honor bestowed on the diocese in the person of the individual,” he said.

It’s an honor he feels the diocese definitely deserves. “The Helena diocese – both when I was growing up and as I’m ministering here – has always been truly a vibrant church, a church of hope, faith and of love. It’s wonderful to be in communion with this diocese and to be blessed by so many in ministry and by wonderful bishops who shepherd and guide.”


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 22, No. 8, August 18, 2006.