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Congratulations to Fr. O'Connor, Fr. Spotswood on their retirements
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June 26, 2023By The Catholic Week
Congratulations to Archdiocese of Mobile priests Fr. Matthew O’Connor and Fr. Cecil Spotswood on their retirements, which were effective June 24.
Fr. O’Connor most recently served as pastor of Christ the King Parish in Daphne since 2009 and was honored at the 8:30 a.m. Mass on June 18. The Fourth Degree Honor Guard from the Bay of the Holy Spirit Assembly 2573 gave a sword salute to Fr. O’Connor as he processed to the altar. A reception followed Mass, where Fr. O’Connor received a second sword salute.
Fr. Spotswood most recently served as parochial vicar at St. Mary and St. Joan of Arc Parishes in Mobile. A reception was also held in his honor at St. Mary Parish on June 18.
Both priests served throughout the archdiocese. Fr. O’Connor was ordained June 13, 1971, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Ballygar, County Galway, Ireland. Two months after his ordination, he began serving as assistant pastor at St. Mary Parish in Mobile. He later served as assistant pastor at St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Montgomery, St. Columba Parish in Dothan and St. Dominic Parish in Mobile.
Fr. O’Connor served as pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish in Magnolia Springs, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Chickasaw, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Mobile and St. Pius X Parish in Mobile before arriving at Christ the King Parish.
Fr. Spotswood was ordained May 24, 1997, at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile. His first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Columba Parish in Dothan. He later served as associate pastor of St. Ignatius and St. Dominic Parishes in Mobile. Fr. Spotswood also served as pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Atmore and St. Martin of Tours Parish in Troy, as well as chaplain to Visitation and Carmelite Monasteries.
