San
Joaquin County
Biographies
REV. FR. WILLIAM B. O’CONNOR
“If you knew him well as a man you
caught the full meaning of the truth that human nature is made in the image and
likeness of God. If you knew him as a
priest you caught the full meaning of the truth that ministers of God are
anointed from on high with a touch of divinity itself. As a man and as a priest he was all that
heaven and earth desire.” Such a man was
Father William Bernard O’Connor, who for forty-three years served in the
Master’s vineyard, and forty of those years were spent in Stockton and San
Joaquin County, laboring in a humble field and working in silence, making no
noise, no pretentions. The governing
spirit of his life can be summed up in one simple statement that he never had a
selfish though and that his work was never done.
William Bernard O’Connor was born in
the parish of Ballyhea, Charleville,
County Cork, Ireland, in October, 1841, the son of John and Mary (Rea)
O’Connor, who were farmers and were able to give their children the advantage
of having a private teacher in their own home.
At an early age William B. was sent to Mount Mellory,
a famous educational institution in Ireland, conducted by the Trappist Fathers.
Here he finished his courses at the age of twenty-one, then felt called
to the priesthood and soon made up his mind that God called him to labor in his
vineyard. In 1863, he entered All
Hallows College, where he read Philosophy and Theology and received his
ecclesiastical training. On June 24,
1868, he was ordained and at once was assigned to the Archdiocese of San
Francisco.
With twenty-one other priests young
Father O’Connor left Ireland on the ship City of Boston for New York; this
vessel, by the way, was lost with all on board on its next return trip from
Ireland. After a voyage of eleven days
the vessel landed in New York on August 17; here he spent a short time and then
went to Earlville, Illinois, whither his brothers and sisters had located upon
their arrival in America a few years previous, and after spending a month
visiting he continued his journey to San Francisco by way of Cape Horn. Immediately reporting to Archbishop Alemany, Father O’Connor was made assistant to Father Grey
in St. Patrick’s parish in San Francisco; later he was transferred to St.
Joseph’s Church in that city. So well
did he discharge the duties imposed upon him that the young curate made a deep
impression with the archbishop and he sent him to Stockton to take charge of
St. Mary’s parish, which included the outlying country and districts tributary
to Stockton. He celebrated his first
mass in Stockton on March 19, 1872, and from that day until he died he toiled
unceasingly for his church, his people and humanity, whatever their creed.
Entering upon his new labors with vigor and quiet determination he toiled
unremittingly for the salvation of the souls of his people. He always found time to listen to their
troubles and to counsel with them; often his disinterested judgment was sought
by others than Catholics, upon matters pertaining to their business and family
affairs. He gave advice and
encouragement to all who came to him and locked forever in his breast the
confidences thus reposed in him.
Father O’Connor soon began to plan
improvements here; in fact he was always planning to better conditions and to
carry forward the work of his Master. In
1875 he made application to establish a convent under the management of the
Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic.
Arrangements were made to conform to his request and with the generous
assistance of Captain C. M. Weber, who furnished a site and financial aid, also
aid from other sources; St. Agnes Academy was completed and dedicated on March
17, 1876. A few years later he built St.
Joseph’s School for the accommodation of the small children unable to attend
the convent. The Sisters from the
Academy were put in charge. The
consummation of this wish only gave impetus to his next desire – the
establishment of a parochial school for boys.
Father O’Connor made arrangements to have the boys receive instructions
from the Sisters and classes were formed in a frame building at the northwest
corner of San Joaquin and Washington streets.
Upon the recommendation of Cardinal Gibbons, Father O’Connor made up his
mind that he would do everything possible to induce the Brothers of Mary, whose
parent house is in Dayton, Ohio, to come to Stockton. His labors bore fruit and in August, 1884,
they took charge of the school. This was
the first advent of the Brothers of Mary in the West; now the Brothers are
teaching in many cities in California.
Always looking ahead, Father
O’Connor saw the necessity of having a larger plot of ground for their cemetery
than the one block of ground already in use.
Taking the matter to Captain Weber, he again showed his generosity by a
free gift of land now embraced in the San Joaquin Cemetery to be consecrated as
God’s acre. In 1893, this tireless
worker began making arrangements in and about the church. This task was completed on June 24, the
twenty-fifth anniversary of his advent in Stockton and he was given a large
reception on this, his silver jubilee.
Father O’Connor was presented with a purse of $1,000 on condition that
he use the money for himself. But he stated he accepted the gift without conditions,
and later applied the entire amount to the church. Another building, which is the result of his endeavors,
is the modern parsonage, erected in keeping with the dignity of the parish and
a comfortable home for the priests. It
was furnished under his personal direction, and it was only several years later
that some of his friends discovered that he had no rug and slept on an old
bed-lounge. It was characteristic of the
man, as there was no necessity for this.
He was then in poor health and when it was suggested that he put away
the old furnishings and have more modern equipment he replied, “There are many
that have worse.” A little conspiracy
was formed and when the good man was out of the city for a day, a carpet was
put down and a comfortable bed put in place of the old lounge. Upon his return he noted the changes,
conformed to them, remarking in his kindly way, “Somebody has been pretty busy
during my absence.”
The greatest achievement of Father O’Connor
was the founding of St. Joseph’s Home, which was dedicated with appropriate
ceremonies on March 19, 1899. The good priest
well knew that the saddest condition of human life is desolate old age without
a home. He saw the need of such a home
and conceived the plan for relief. The
project seemed so visionary at the time that only the stoutest heart could work
out its solution. It needed much money
for building and equipment and what money he had was needed in the parish
work. He told his plans to J. D. Peters,
who immediately gave Father O’Connor $10,000.
Miss Julia Weber and others also gave generously and the building was
completed in good time. For the
following fifteen years he saw old age ministered to as it had never been
before and he lived to see the Home take a commanding position among the
benevolent institutions of the state. It
was here that he passed his last days, cared for by loving hands and enjoying
the taste of peace and joy he had so wisely provided for others. The Home, with hospital annex, is provided
with all conveniences and comforts and presided over by the Sisters of St.
Dominic.
Father O’Connor was a consistent
advocate of temperance and organized temperance societies among this
people. From his early manhood until his
death he never used intoxicating liquors.
After a life filled with good deeds and unceasing toil that others might
be benefited, Father O’Connor passed away on December 26, 1911. His physical strength was not equal to the
task imposed upon it by an indomitable spirit and he and he retired to St.
Joseph’s Home, which name he had given the haven of refuge built under his
personal supervision. He is sadly missed
for he was everywhere that human need was.
The sick, the sinning, the sorrowing, the struggling, the unfortunate,
the dying; these were his daily schedule.
Distress in any form could call him at any hour of the day or night, and
he always brought a cheerful heart. He spent
himself for others; he never looked for recognition, but screened his good
works behind modesty, real, inherent, simple and true. He was no ordinary man and was respected by
men of all creeds.
In reviewing a life like that, which
never knew a selfish thought, which abounded in heroism that sounded the last
depths of unselfish devotion, as was shown during the scourge of smallpox that
once visited Stockton, we need not mind the circumstance that he achieved in a
humble and restricted sphere when we venture to award him a place among the
great; for we can say of his as was said of another, “Prime ministers and
princes are private citizens beside a man like that.” But his work is done. He brought his life work for a full
completion. He was a saint on
earth. In commemoration of his life work
a statue was erected and unveiled in the grounds of St. Joseph’s Home and
Hospital on June 7, 1914.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
368-371. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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