Gravestone: "Retreat giver, spiritual director, teacher, writer, pastor, friend."

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Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017, post-publication supplement:
O'Hara, Thomas

Spiritual Director, pastor; born Dalby, Queensland, 17 December 1932; died Sydney, 12 November 2016, aged 83.

Thomas O'Hara was one of three children to Joseph and Rita. His mother died when he was less than one year old, and his father when he was just three. He was raised by his Aunt Marg in South Melbourne, while his other siblings remained in Queensland. His secondary education was at St Colman's, CBC, Fitzroy and CBC Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. It was from here that he attended retreats at Loyola College, Watsonia, which alerted him to Ignatian spirituality.

O'Hara entered the Society at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1 February 1950, together with 25 other novices, a record for the Australian province. After juniorate and philosophy studies at Loyola, he went to regency at St Aloysius' College, 1956-58, teaching and in charge of the Junior School. He was known for strictness with students, but also for the warmth of his friendship with families.

He was then assigned to Campion College, Kew, studying mathematics and science at The Melbourne University, 1959-61, but did not complete his degree, finding it difficult to return to contemporary science after a gap of many years from those disciplines. He returned to regency at St Ignatius' College, Riverview, 1962-63, teaching junior religion, Latin and science, as well as being a division prefect in the boarding house.

Theology followed at Canisius College, Pymble, 1964-67, and he was ordained to the priesthood at St Patrick's Cathedral, East Melbourne, 13 December 1966. Tertianship was at St Beuno's College, St Asaph, Flintshire, UK, September 1968-June 1969, under the guidance of Father Paul Kennedy. Post graduate studies in spiritual theology followed at the Gregorian, Rome, while living at the Bellarmino, 1972-75. On 22 April 1972, he was professed.

His first ministerial appointment was to the Jesuit Curia in Rome as assistant to the regional assistant for the East Asia assistancy, 1970-71. Doctoral studies in spirituality at the Gregorian followed, 1972-75, and then again externally, 1998-July 1999. O'Hara loved living in Rome, rejoicing in its language and culture. He made many new friends not only in Rome, but also during his many travels around Europe.

Returning to Australia and Canisius College, Pymble, O'Hara was appointed assistant director of the Centre for Ignatian Spirituality under John Drury, and then director during the years 1976-2004. In this role he was appreciated for his strong intellect, spirituality and compassion which enabled him to assist countless people in a gentle and kind way. During this time, 1987-89, he also promoted spiritual renewal in the Parramatta Diocese, while living at Da La Salle, Castle Hill. He also roamed the country from the Adelaide, Perth, and Broome dioceses as well as the Pacific Islands giving retreats and spiritual direction.

He was then appointed assistant priest in the parish of North Sydney, while continuing his work of spiritual direction and retreats, 2005-2013. It was claimed that here he brought a softness, calmness, and clear thought to any situation, and was a source of great goodness in life. He became a much-loved mentor and preacher.

Towards the end of these years, O'Hara began to experience declining health issues, so he was assigned to Arrupe House, Pymble, where he continued his spiritual work and wrote a few books on Ignatian spirituality that were well received. Not long before his death, O'Hara visited his brother Frank and his wife Hillary in the UK. Soon after they both died, and O'Hara suffered a series of strokes, from which he never recovered while being a short time resident at St Peter's Residential Aged Care, Lane Cove North, NSW.

Reporting to Rome on the death of O'Hara, Christopher Horvat reflected that O'Hara was intelligent, resilient, sometimes quirky, with a penchant for repartee and irony, and a love for golf, and indeed of most sports. An expert guide, O'Hara wrote accessible texts on the spiritual life, including At Home with God, At Home with Jesus and At Home with the Spirit. He wanted to share the home he had found in the life of the Trinity, furnished by the insights of Ignatius. His own insights were grounded in the earthiness of his life and the lives of those whom he befriended particularly through weddings, baptisms, and regular parish Masses at North Sydney, where his last two books, Come Lord Jesus: Contemplation and the Gospels (David Lovell Publications) and To See Jesus (ATF Press) were launched posthumously in February 2017.

Furthermore, interior freedom, the importance of abiding relationships with one other and with God, as well as a commitment to the greater good, were the hallmarks of the Ignatian spirituality he embraced in his teaching, writing, pastoral ministry, spiritual direction, preaching, and most particularly in his friendships. Having very little family life of his own, he embraced and enriched the family lives of many people. He had a remarkable memory for people and experiences. Always sharply aware of the spiritual landscape, he had a special knack for connecting with those with challenges.

His grandniece said that O'Hara was 'eccentric, brilliant, not always attuned to social cues, but resilient in spades'; and another relative said that he was 'a man of great warmth, humour, simplicity, passion and erudition.'

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)