The St. Agnes Fathers’ Club
Proudly recognizes
Bernard J. O’Connell
2024 Recipient of the William J. Cronin Award

The William J. Cronin Award was established in 2006 to annually recognize an individual, usually a Fathers’ Club member, who has given selflessly to our children and the St. Agnes Cathedral School community. This year, it is presented to Mr. Bernard J. O’Connell, a long-time member and former officer of both the Fathers’ Club and the St. Agnes School Board.

Bernie is a Director of Fixed Income Control for the Royal Bank of Canada, Capital Markets. He has worked at the bank for over 16 Years. He manages a staff both here in New York and in Canada. Prior to this position, he was a Director and Department Head at Société Générale and Citibank.

Catholic education is very important to the O’Connell family. Bernie is a graduate of Immaculate Conception School in Irvington, NY, and St. Agnes Boy’s High School in New York City. He then went on to Fordham University, in the Bronx where he received a BS in Finance. He also played football and was an officer in Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity while at Fordham.

Bernie and his wife Margaret Mary, who also attend St. Agnes Cathedral School and was a member of St. Agnes School Board, are the parents of four children – Bernadette, Class of 2011, Kathleen,  Class of 2014, Claire, Class of  2016, and James , Class of 2022. All three of their daughters attended Sacred Heart Academy, like their mother, and James currently attends Chaminade High School. The three girls have all graduated for college, Bernadette from the University of Dayton, Kathleen from The Catholic University of America, and Claire this year from Purdue University.

Bernie has been active in the Fathers’ Club since 2004. He served as Treasurer for 8 years, then Vice President in 2009-10 and President in 2010-11, during which time he was involved in many SAFC projects, including installing new lockers, re-building the stage, building the new playground and clearing the field of dreams. He has worked on numerus golf outings and other fund-raising activities, including Ronan Tyan for the parish. Bernie served as a member of the school board from 2010 to 2014. He was also the treasurer of the St. Agnes Cathedral Gala/Dinner Dance for over 10 years.

Bernie and Margaret Mary received the Saint Cathrine of Siena Award last year at the St. Agnes Cathedral Dinner Dance for their recognition to Commitment to Catholic Education.

Since their wedding in the Cathedral on September 15,1990, Bernie & Margaret Mary  have been members of St. Agnes Cathedral Parish. As a family, they have brought up the gifts at the family masses, their children have been lecturers at 9:30 & 10:30 mass and have been involved in many of the activities of the parish. Bernie has offered his financial talents many times for fund-raising committees and has volunteered for the Giving Tree. He has also been a CYO basketball coach and has “kept the book” for many basketball and volleyball games. Through Fathers’ Club he has ushered masses and has acted as security for the Parish Bazaar,

Bernie is very proud and honored to receive the William J. Cronin Award.