Irish-born priest found a home at St. Robert's
Freehold Township parish mourns Thomas J. O'Connor
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

The Rev. Thomas J. O'Connor

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The community of St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church is mourning the loss of a dedicated pastor and devoted friend.

The Rev. Thomas J. O'Connor, 78, who led the parishioners of St. Robert's since 1988, died June 11 after a battle with cancer that began in 2001.

The Irish-born Roman Catholic priest who was raised in Shrone, County Kerry, Ireland, came to the United States in 1952 to attend Catholic seminary.

The Rev. Edward Jawidzik of St. Robert Bellarmine said Father O'Connor attended St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, where he studied theology. He was ordained a priest at St. Mary's Cathedral, Trenton, on June 4, 1955.

In 2005, St. Robert's held a Golden Jubilee celebration for Father O'Connor to honor his 50 years of service in the priesthood.

According to Father Jawidzik, Father O'Connor spent five years as the parish priest at St. Francis Catholic Church, Metuchen, which was his first assignment as a priest. He was then assigned to Our Lady Star of the Sea, Long Branch. During that five-year tenure, Father O'Connor served as chaplain to Monmouth College, West Long Branch, and had the responsibility of visiting patients at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch.

In 1970, Father O'Connor was named chaplain at the former Marlboro State Psychiatric Hospital and at Collier High School, both in Marlboro. He served in those positions for 18 years before being assigned to St. Robert Bellarmine on Georgia Road, Freehold Township, in 1988.

The pastor was a man known for his kindness and great wit, according to those who knew him.

"Father O'Connor had a great sense of humor," Father Jawidzik said. "He was always able to see the humor in a situation. He was also a very hard worker and dedicated to the priesthood and devoted to his parish. He paid a great deal of attention to the running of this parish financially, but more importantly, he gave great attention to the running of the parish sacramentally. He was very devoted to that aspect of his work. He was a beloved pastor."

During his time as pastor at St. Robert Bellarmine, Father O'Connor oversaw the construction of a new wing in the parish center in the early 1990s, containing 17 classrooms for religious education. He also oversaw the construction of a new church.

According to Father Jawidzik, the new church, which was completed in 2002, seats 1,100 people and was something the parish of 3,600 families needed.

In addition to his love for his parish, Father O'Connor loved sports and was active in many, including handball, Irish hurling, Irish football and golf. He also bred and raised standardbred racehorses and took great pride in the success of his championship horse Caramore (the Irish word meaning "big friend").

Father O'Connor was predeceased by his brother, Johnny, and sister, Noreen, both of Ireland. He is survived by his brother, Canon Michael O'Connor of Moulagow, County Kerry, Ireland, and a sister, Eileen Maguire, Dublin, Ireland, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial Mass officiated by the Most Rev. John M. Smith, bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, was offered for Father O'Connor on June 16. Hundreds of mourners paid their respects at that time. Father O'Connor was buried at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Cemetery, Shrone, Rathmore, County Kerry, Ireland.