Joseph Thomas O'Keefe

Joseph Thomas O'Keefe
Bishop emeritus of Syracuse

In office	1987-1995
Orders
Ordination	April 17, 1948
Consecration	September 8, 1982 by Cardinal Terence Cooke
Personal details
Born	(1919-03-12)March 12, 1919 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	September 2, 1997(1997-09-02) (aged 78) St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	Michael and Bridget (née O'Sullivan) O'Keefe
Motto	Adspice in Jesum (Look to Jesus)
Coat of arms

Joseph Thomas O'Keefe (March 12, 1919 – September 2, 1997) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse in New York from 1987 to 1995.

Biography

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Early life

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Joseph O'Keefe was born on March 12, 1919 in New York City to Michael and Bridget (née O'Sullivan) O'Keefe.^[1]

Priesthood

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O'Keefe was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York on April 17, 1948 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan by Cardinal Francis Spellman.^[2] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned O'Keefe as a curate at St. Luke's Parish in the Bronx. He also taught biology and served as dean at Cardinal Hayes High School in the same borough. In 1951, O'Keefe received a Master of Science degree in biology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.^[3]

O'Keefe later taught biology at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York and at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, New York. He was Secretary for Education and associate superintendent of Catholic schools in the archdiocese, chancellor and vicar general, as well as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Manhattan.^[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of New York

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On July 3, 1982, O'Keefe was appointed auxiliary bishop of New York and titular bishop of Tres Tabernae by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on September 8, 1982 from Cardinal Terence Cooke, with Archbishop John Joseph Maguire and Bishop Harold Robert Perry serving as co-consecrators, at St. Patrick's Cathedral.^[2]

After the death of Cardinal Terrence Cooke in 1983, the priests of the archdiocese elected O'Keefe to serve as the apostolic administrator, running the archdiocese until the pope appointed a new archbishop.^[3]

In 1986, O'Keefe had a public dispute with New York Governor Mario Cuomo over abortion rights for women. The archdiocese had recently enacted a ban on public figures who supported abortion rights from speaking at archdiocesan properties. Cuomo said that while he personally did not believe in abortion rights, he supported the rights of women to make their own decisions on it. O'Keefe expressed his disagreement with Cuomo's position.^[3]

Bishop of Syracuse

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John Paul II appointed O'Keefe as the eighth bishop of Syracuse on June 16, 1987. He was installed at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on August 3, 1987.^[1]

Retirement and legacy

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After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, O'Keefe resigned as bishop of Syracuse on April 4, 1995. He died from heart failure at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse at age 78.^[4]^[5]

References

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^ ^a ^b ^c "Past Bishops". Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
^ ^a ^b "Bishop Joseph Thomas O'Keefe [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
^ ^a ^b ^c Pace, Eric (1997-09-05). "Joseph T. O'Keefe, 78, Bishop of Syracuse". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
^ "PRIESTS, PAUPERS LOSE A FRIEND AND BISHOP RETIRED BISHOP JOSEPH T. O'KEEFE DIES AT 78". The Post-Standard. 1997-09-03.
^ Pace, Eric (September 5, 1997). "Joseph T. O'Keefe, 78, Bishop of Syracuse" – via NYTimes.com.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Francis James Harrison	Bishop of Syracuse 1987–1995	Succeeded by James Michael Moynihan
Preceded by –	Auxiliary Bishop of New York 1982–1987	Succeeded by –

v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
Ordinaries	Bishops Patrick Anthony Ludden John Grimes Daniel Joseph Curley John A. Duffy Walter Andrew Foery David Frederick Cunningham Francis James Harrison Joseph Thomas O'Keefe James Michael Moynihan Robert J. Cunningham Douglas Lucia Auxiliary bishops Thomas Joseph Costello
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Syracuse Basilica Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Syracuse Parishes St. John the Baptist Greek Catholic Church, Syracuse St. Joseph's Church, Utica Former parish St. Peter's Italian Church, Syracuse
Education	High schools Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School, East Syracuse Bishop Ludden Junior/Senior High School, Syracuse Notre Dame Junior Senior High School, Utica Seton Catholic Central High School, Binghamton Independent high schools Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse Holy Cross Academy, Oneida
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Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York

v t e Ordinaries of the Archdiocese of New York
Bishops of New York	R. Luke Concanen John Connolly John Dubois John Joseph Hughes
Archbishops of New York	John Joseph Hughes John Cardinal McCloskey Michael Augustine Corrigan John Murphy Cardinal Farley Patrick Joseph Cardinal Hayes Francis Joseph Cardinal Spellman Terence James Cardinal Cooke John Joseph Cardinal O'Connor Edward Michael Cardinal Egan Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Auxiliary bishops, current	Peter John Byrne Gerardo Joseph Colacicco Edmund James Whalen John Samuel Bonnici Joseph Armando Espaillat
Auxiliary bishops, emeritus	Josu Iriondo John Joseph Jenik Dominick John Lagonegro James Francis McCarthy John Joseph O'Hara Gerald Thomas Walsh
Auxiliary bishops, former, currently living	Henry J. Mansell Timothy A. McDonnell Edwin Frederick O'Brien Dennis Joseph Sullivan
Auxiliary bishops, former, deceased	Patrick Vincent Ahern Edwin Broderick Thomas Cusack Edward Vincent Dargin Joseph Patrick Donahue John Joseph Dunn John Michael Fearns Joseph Francis Flannelly Francisco Garmendia James Griffiths George Henry Guilfoyle Edward Dennis Head Walter P. Kellenberg John Joseph Maguire James Patrick Mahoney Theodore McCarrick William Jerome McCormack James Francis McIntyre Anthony Francis Mestice Emerson John Moore Joseph Thomas O'Keefe Joseph Maria Pernicone Fulton J. Sheen Patrick Joseph Thomas Sheridan Austin Bernard Vaughan Robert Anthony Brucato
Bishops who served as priests in the archdiocese, living	Charles Daniel Balvo Charles John Brown William Muhm
Bishops who served as priests in the archdiocese, deceased	St. John Nepomucene Neumann Patrick Aloysius O'Boyle Charles H. Colton John J. Conroy Philip Joseph Furlong Charles Edward McDonnell Francis Patrick McFarland Francis McNeirny Bernard John Joseph McQuaid Rrok Kola Mirdita John Joseph Mitty Joseph Thomas Dimino William Quarter Francis Frederick Reh Joseph Francis Rummel William Scully
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v t e Churches in the Archdiocese of New York
Archdiocese	Cathedral St. Patrick's Cathedral, Manhattan Former cathedral Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
New York City	Bronx Blessed Sacrament Church Church of the Sacred Heart Christ the King's Church Holy Cross Church Immaculate Conception Church Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Our Lady of Mercy's Church Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Church Our Lady of the Nativity of Our Blessed Lady's Church Our Lady of Solace's Church St. Angela Merici's Church St. Anselm's Church St. Ann's Church St. Anthony's Church St. Anthony of Padua Church St. Athanasius's Church St. Augustine's Church St. Barnabas' Church St. Brendan's Church St. Clare of Assisi's Church St. Dominic's Church St. Frances de Chantal's Church St. Frances of Rome's Church St. Francis Xavier's Church St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church St. Helena's Church St. Jerome's Church St. Joan of Arc's Church St. John's Church St. John Chrysostom's Church St. Joseph's Church St. Lucy's Church St. Luke's Church St. Margaret Mary's Church St. Margaret of Cortona's Church St. Martin of Tours' Church St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church St. Pius V's Church St. Raymond's Church Church of St. Simon Stock St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Church SS. Peter and Paul's Church Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Manhattan All Saints Church Church of the Annunciation Chapel of the Resurrection Church of Notre Dame Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church of Our Lady of Sorrows Church of Our Lady of the Scapular–St. Stephen Church of Sts. Cyril & Methodius and St. Raphael Church of St. Catherine of Genoa Church of St. Ignatius Loyola Church of St. Joseph Church of St. Michael Church of St. Vincent Ferrer Church of the Ascension, Roman Catholic Church of the Blessed Sacrament Church of the Epiphany Church of the Good Shepherd Church of the Holy Agony Church of the Holy Family Church of the Incarnation, Roman Catholic Church of the Most Precious Blood Church of the Nativity Chapel of the Resurrection Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church of the Transfiguration, Roman Catholic Corpus Christi Church Holy Cross Church Holy Innocents Church Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church Holy Rosary Church Holy Trinity Church Immaculate Conception Church Our Lady of Esperanza Church Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard Church Our Lady of Lourdes Church Our Lady of the Holy Rosary's Church Our Lady of Pompeii Church Our Lady of Victory Church Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church Our Saviour Church San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel St. Agnes Church St. Aloysius Catholic Church St. Andrew Church St. Ann Church St. Anthony of Padua Church St. Benedict the Moor Church St. Catherine of Siena Church St. Cecilia Church and Convent St. Charles Borromeo Church St. Elizabeth Church St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church St. Emeric Church St. Francis of Assisi Church St. Francis Xavier Church St. Gregory the Great Church St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church St. John the Baptist Church St. John the Evangelist Church St. Joseph of the Holy Family Church St. Joseph Chapel St. Jude Church St. Lucy Church St. Malachy Roman Catholic Church St. Mark the Evangelist Church St. Mary Church St. Monica Church St. Patrick's Old Cathedral St. Paul Church St. Paul the Apostle Church St. Peter's Church St. Rose of Lima Church St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church St. Stephen of Hungary Church St. Teresa Church St. Thomas More Church St. Veronica Church Slovenian Church of St. Cyril Staten Island Church of Our Lady Help of Christians Church of Our Lady of Pity Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church of the Blessed Sacrament Church of the Holy Family Our Lady of Good Counsel's Church Sacred Heart Church St. Adalbert's Church St. Charles's Church St. Clare's Church St. Mary's Church St. Patrick's Church St. Peter's Church St. Rita's Church St. Roch's Church St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus's Church
Dutchess County	Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Church (LaGrangeville) Church of Regina Coeli (Hyde Park) Church of St. Martin de Porres (Poughkeepsie) Church of St. Mary, Mother of the Church (Fishkill) St. Mary's Church (Poughkeepsie) St. Mary's Church (Wappingers Falls) Church of the Good Shepherd (Rhinebeck) Immaculate Conception Church (Amenia) Immaculate Conception Church (Bangall) Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Church (Poughkeepsie) St. Anthony's Church (Pine Plains) St. Charles Borromeo's Church (Dover Plains) St. Christopher's Church (Red Hook) St. Columba's Church (Hopewell Junction) St. Denis Church (Hopewell Junction) St. Joachim and St. John the Evangelist's Church (Beacon) St. John the Evangelist's Church (Pawling) St. Joseph's Chapel (Rhinecliff) St. Joseph's Church (Millbrook) St. Patrick's Chapel (Millerton) St. Paul's Chapel (Staatsburg) St. Peter's Church (Poughkeepsie) St. Sylvia's Church (Tivoli)
Orange County
Putnam County
Rockland County
Sullivan County
Ulster County
Westchester County	Blessed Sacrament Church (New Rochelle) Church of the Holy Family (New Rochelle) Church of the Resurrection (Rye) Church of St. Augustine (Larchmont) Church of St. Joseph (Bronxville) Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Scarsdale) Immaculate Conception Church (Tuckahoe) Immaculate Conception St. Mary's (Yonkers) Most Holy Trinity Church (Mamaroneck) Our Lady of Mercy Church (Port Chester) St. Gabriel's Church (New Rochelle) St. Vito's Church (Mamaroneck) St. Vito-Most Holy Trinity Parish (Mamaroneck)

v t e Education in the Archdiocese of New York
Archdiocese	Seminaries Saint Joseph's Seminary Charities List of Catholic charities in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York Universities and colleges Fordham University Iona University Manhattan University University of Mount Saint Vincent
New York City	Bronx high schools Academy of Mount St. Ursula All Hallows High School Cardinal Hayes High School Cardinal Spellman High School Fordham Preparatory School Monsignor Scanlan High School Mount Saint Michael Academy Preston High School St. Barnabas High School St. Catharine Academy St. Raymond Academy St. Raymond High School for Boys Manhattan high schools Cathedral High School Convent of the Sacred Heart Cristo Rey New York High School Dominican Academy La Salle Academy Loyola School Marymount School of New York Notre Dame School Regis High School St. George Academy St. Jean Baptiste High School St. Vincent Ferrer High School Xavier High School Staten Island high schools Monsignor Farrell High School Moore Catholic High School Notre Dame Academy St. Joseph by the Sea High School St. Joseph Hill Academy St. Peter's Boys High School
Dutchess County	Our Lady of Lourdes High School
Orange County	John S. Burke Catholic High School
Rockland County	Albertus Magnus High School
Westchester County	Iona Preparatory School John F. Kennedy Catholic High School Maria Regina High School Sacred Heart High School Salesian High School School of the Holy Child Archbishop Stepinac High School The Montfort Academy The Ursuline School
Closed	John A. Coleman Catholic High School College of New Rochelle

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