Rev James O'Connor
Title:
Rev
First Name:
James
Middle Names:
Preferred Name:
Surname:
O'Connor
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Country of Birth:
Ireland
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Country of Ordination:
Ordination Diocese:
Brisbane
Seminary:
Irish College, Rome, Italy
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Nudgee, Brisbane QLD
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Appointments Table
Diocese | Place | Role | Start Day | Start Month | Start Year | End Day | End Month | End Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | Warwick | Curate | 1919 | 1921 | Toowoomba Prayer Calendar; Priests of 1928 | ||||
| Brisbane | Rosalie | Toowoomba Prayer Calendar; Priests of 1928 | |||||||
| Brisbane | Caboolture | 1933 | Toowoomba Prayer Calendar; Priests of 1928 | ||||||
| Brisbane | Herston | Parish Priest/Hospital Chaplain | 1933 | 1958 | Toowoomba Prayer Calendar; Priests of 1928 | ||||
| Brisbane | Nundah | 1958 | Oct | 1961 | Toowoomba Prayer Calendar; Priests of 1928 |
Biographical Notes
Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 130-131:
James O'Connor
A student from St Brendan's Seminary, Killarney, and the Irish College in Rome, James O'Connor was ordained for Brisbane in Rome in 1919 at St John Lateran Basilica.
He arrived in Brisbane in the following year and went to Warwick for four years.
Fr Joe McKey recalled In the Light of Other Days: 'Fr James O'Connor was a fine tall Irish lad but raw to the country. He arrived in the town by train and probably never drove a horse before. The work around town was done on foot, but if the presbytery horse and sulky was available the priest drove himself out to the Sunday Mass Centre. Well, poor Fr O'Connor put the reins over the dashboard and with a "get up Barney" set off at a gallop - where to didn't seem to matter as Barney was expected to know the way! But Barney didn't always know the way and on one occasion Fr O'Connor was found driving along a lonely bush road well into the night. On another occasion it was said that after driving all day long he arrived safely back in Warwick instead of arriving at the Mass station.'
After short terms in Rosalie and Caboolture, James O'Connor was appointed Parish Priest of Herston. This was a lengthy term of 23 years and included chaplaincy to the General Hospital. 'His kindness, charity and gentle manner resulted in a remarkable influence with the sick and dying and he was a virtual institution at the hospital for many years.'
In 1958 he was transferred to become Parish Priest of Nundah. He was remembered for having introduced a weekly perpetual novena devotion on Wednesday evenings. Catholics from many parts of the city attended.
Fr O'Connor became ill rather suddenly and died in the Holy Spirit Hospital a few days later on 26th October 1961.
At the Requiem Mass at St Stephen's, Archbishop O'Donnell said he was one of the most popular and affectionately regarded priests in the Archdiocese, and referred to his zeal, holiness and dedication to his priestly duties. Burial followed at Nudgee.
Another priest said of Fr O'Connor, 'His example alone was an inspiration to everybody. He led a Christ-like life as a priest and could truly be called a rare Christian gentleman. Modest and unassuming, he was quite a learned man and a sound theologian. He will be greatly missed by his priest friends and parishioners.'
He had a brother, Fr Daniel O'Connor, who had gone to Texas, USA.
(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)
---
Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev James O'Connor, died 26 Oct 1961
James O'Connor was born in Ireland on 18th January, 1896. Seminary studies were undertaken at the Irish College, Rome and on their completion, he was ordained for the Brisbane Archdiocese on 5th April, 1919. Priestly ministry was carried out in the following places: Assistant Priest, Warwick (1919-1921); Rosalie (there in 1926); Parish Priest of Caboolture (there in 1933); Herston (1933-44) and Nundah. He died in 1961 and was buried in the Nudgee Cemetery.
(Ref. Brisbane Archives)
Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.