Parishes of Catholic priests in Ambridge, Baden and Mt. Lebanon have become involved in an organizational shuffle.

The Rev. Terrence P. O'Connor, pastor of Good Samaritan in Ambridge and St. John the Baptist in Baden, has been appointed vice rector and director of spiritual formation at St. Paul Seminary in the East Carnegie section of the city.

He replaces the Rev. Joseph Mele, who will become the new rector of St. Paul and director of preordination formation.

Succeeding Father O'Connor at the two Beaver County parishes is the Rev. Joseph A. Carr, parochial vicar at St. Bernard in Mt. Lebanon.

All changes were effective May 9.

Father O'Connor, who has been pastor of the Beaver County parishes for four years, said it's been no small task, but he said he's had the full support of the parishioners and some divine help along the way.

"I was able to do it through the power of the Holy Spirit and with the Lord's help," he said. "Also, the wonderful staff at both places and the people at the parishes chipping in is essentially how we do it."

In his new role, Father O'Connor will oversee the priestly formation, which encompasses the areas of human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral development. He will reside with the seminarians and immerse himself in their daily lives.

"I'll be living with them, teaching them, worshipping with them, eating with them and socializing with them," he said. "I hope to inspire them and give them insights into the priesthood and, if it is God's will for them, hopefully they will accept and embrace that call."

Father O'Connor said the shift from working with parishioners to seminarians is stirring up feelings of excitement and trepidation in him.

"It's going to be different for me. I consider myself a man of the people," he said. "I guess I get that from my parents."

His parents are former Pittsburgh mayor Bob O'Connor and his wife, Judy.

While he is eagerly anticipating his new role, Father O'Connor said the move will be bittersweet as he leaves behind his first pastoral assignment and two parishes he loves.

"The people at Good Samaritan and St. John the Baptist are just tremendous. They really have a good, solid grounding in the faith," he said. "I'll be sad to leave all of them. It was just a wonderful four years here."

Jan Culp, secretary at St. John the Baptist, said the feelings are mutual.

"It's excitement and sadness at the same time. We're happy for him but sad that we won't see him on a daily basis," she said. "He's a terrific homilist, and he's been very inspirational to our parishioners."

Father Carr is no stranger to Beaver County.

His first assignment as a priest was as parochial vicar at the two churches. It's a position he held for three years before his assignment at St. Bernard.

During two of his years in Beaver County, Father Carr worked with Father O'Connor.

"Now I'm coming back, and he's leaving," Father Carr said.

This will be Father Carr's first assignment as a pastor, which he said he is looking forward to, knowing he will have the full support of the parishioners as he embraces this dual role.

"I have really good staff there, so that makes all the difference in the world," he said.

Father Carr grew up in Greenfield and attended Central Catholic High School in Oakland.

He worked for the Diocese of Pittsburgh for 11 years, running their programs for the unemployed before he entered St. Paul's Seminary in 2000.

He served for three years at Good Samaritan and St. John the Baptist. He then spent 14 months at St. Kilian in Cranberry before being transferred to St. Bernard for four months.

Despite his short stay, Father Carr said his experience at St. Bernard's has been a pleasant one.

"The people here are wonderful," he said. "I was really pleased when I got here. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the people were really warm and welcoming. They're Pittsburghers."

Father Carr said his familiarity with Good Samaritan and St. John the Baptist will help to make this transition smooth for him and the parishioners.

Leslie Smith, parish council member for Good Samaritan, said they are looking forward to his return.

"Father Carr is very loved," he said. "We're very blessed to get him because we know him, and, like Father O'Connor, he is a very compassionate and loving person."

First Published: May 19, 2011, 1:30 p.m.