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

Teacher; born Co Wexford, Ireland, 1 March 1842; died Melbourne, 8 November 1921, aged 79.

James O'Connor was educated at Clongowes Wood, 1858-61, and entered the Society, 7 September 1861. He studied philosophy at Stonyhurst and theology at St Beuno's. Tertianship was at Milltown Park, 1879-80.

He taught at Tullamore College, 1880-85, and at Clongowes, 1885-86, before arriving in Australia in 1886. He taught at Riverview, 1886-88 and 1891-93; St Patrick's College, 1889-90; and Xavier College, 1894-1921. Here he was in charge of the farm, 1898-1913. He was also, at various times, hall prefect, prefect of discipline, and spiritual father. In 1921 he had been teaching for 40 years.

His work in the schools falls into two parts. For many years he was in charge of the first class, teaching the small boys in their first year in the school. He was known as a kind teacher. His attitude to the boys was more paternal than magisterial, and his class was very informal. He was a man of infinite patience, and enjoyed teaching boys the elements of learning. Backward learners had a special share of his attention. He loved cricket, played it himself as a youth, and enjoyed watching games.

The other side of his work for the school was his special contact with the boys as confessor. The boys showed genuine sadness when they learnt of his death, and were permitted to pay their last respect to O'Connor by viewing his body in his bedroom.

O'Connor was little known except by the boys and his religious community. He rarely left the college grounds, and he respected the privacy of his students in their daily life. Likewise, he was respected for his charm of manner, his humour and great kindliness. Otherwise, he led a very uneventful life, and never preached.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)