We congratulate Fr Kevin O’Neill on achieving 25 years of Columban missionary priesthood in the Lord’s service.
Fr Kevin O’Neill, the current Superior General of the Missionary Society of St Columban, was ordained by Bishop Peter Connors at Holy Spirit Church, Manifold Heights, Geelong, on July 10, 1992.
Fr Kevin is fourth in a family of six. Fr Peter is his twin brother and also a Columban priest. Their parents, John and Ruth, reside in Geelong, Victoria.
Fr Kevin studied chemical engineering at the RMIT in Melbourne before he decided to join his brother at the Columban seminary in North Turramurra, NSW, in 1984.
In 1988 he went to Taiwan for his Overseas Training Programme involving study of the Mandarin language and pastoral work with mentally ill patients.
Returning to Australia in 1990 he continued his seminary training until his ordination after which he was re-appointed to Taiwan. After further language study he was engaged in prison ministry and in 1994 was appointed Coordinator of the Taiwan Mission Unit while continuing to work with prisoners, youth, the mentally ill and HIV patients.
In 2000 Fr Kevin attended the Columban General Assembly in Sydney where he was elected to the General Council in Ireland.
After six years on the Council he was re-appointed to Taiwan and three years later to mainland China where he was made Coordinator of the China Mission Unit in 2010.
As Coordinator he attended another Columban General Assembly in 2012 in Los Angeles where he was elected Superior General of the Society. His base as Superior General is Hong Kong.
