Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
O'Connor, Desmond

Writer, editor, university chaplain; born Marrickville, Sydney, 19 June 1909; died Melbourne, 31 August 1988, aged 79.

Desmond O'Connor's secondary education was at CBC Waverley. On leaving school he became an articled clerk in the d'Apice law firm for five years, and studied for the LLB degree at the University of Sydney, 1928-32, where he took a leading part in Catholic student activities. He was one of the founding members of the Newman Society at the university, an office bearer and a leading spirit. He was also involved with the establishment of the Campion Society in Sydney, wrote articles and produced plays aimed at raising funds for the poor of Sydney.

After some contact with Jesuits, especially Richard Murphy and William Keane, through the Campion Society, O'Connor decided to join the Society at the age of 29, and on 1 March 1938 he entered the noviciate at Loyola College, Watsonia. As a late vocation he contributed well to the community life of the novices - his experience of the world, his puns and humorous remarks, and his example of giving up everything to follow Christ. In those days he was a sturdy walker and strong swimmer, even a canny soccer player.

He studied philosophy at Pymble and Watsonia, 1940-42, and went to St Patrick's College during his last year of philosophy for a rest, but also taught history, geography and religion. He developed a great respect for the college.

From 1943-46 he studied theology at Pymble, being ordained on 5 January 1946. Tertianship followed under John Fahy at Watsonia.

His first appointment came in 1948 when he was assigned to Manresa, Hawthorn, to help in the parish, to edit Madonna, to promote the Sodality of Our Lady, and to be assistant editor of the Messenger. In 1950 O'Connor took over the Messenger from Eustace Boylan who was very old and deaf, and moved to St Patrick's College. In 1952 he became editor of the Jesuit Year Book.

As the school wanted the Messenger rooms, O'Connor moved the operation, in 1958, to Messenger House in Richmond, and it remained there until the beginning of 1970. In his time as editor the Messenger had a monthly circulation of around 45,000, the largest of any Catholic periodical in Australia. He acted as editor, encouraged writers, and wrote a good deal himself. He produced and distributed the scripts for the monthly leaflets of the Apostleship of Prayer, started a successful Catholic bookshop and became a seller of Christmas cards on a large scale. In his spare time, he preached retreats to seminarians, nuns, and professional people. He was a well-respected spiritual director.

In 1970 he returned to Canisius College when the theologate moved to Parkville. He ran the house and organised the retreats with the help of the brothers. He organised the sale of land around the college, and sold one of the holiday houses at Gerroa, developments not universally appreciated.

In 1974 he became a pastor at St Mary's, North Sydney, with the Mater hospital as a special charge. However, that year, he had a minor stroke.

From 1975-1986 he was on the staff of Newman College. He was the official chaplain and in 1976 he became librarian. He was always available. He heard confessions at St Francis' Church, made hospital visits, and gave tutorials in Law.

In 1986 he had a major stroke. He carried on but moved to a chaplaincy at Windsor Convent at the beginning of 1987. He kept on editing Jesuit Life. But, in his final years, he could neither speak nor write - a great cross for a great communicator. O'Connor was good company, a generous man, and a true professional in the many tasks he undertook as a priest and a Jesuit. He died at Caritas Christi hospice, Kew. O'Connor will be particularly appreciated in Jesuit communities for his kindness, wit, friendship and wisdom.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)