Columban Fr Sean O'Connor was born in Gate Pa, Tauranga, New Zealand, on May 25, 1940. Fr Sean's parents were John and Teresa, and he was the second of three boys and four girls. He went to primary school at St Joseph's Levin and Dannevirke. He attended St Joseph's Masterton for the first part of his secondary education before moving to St Patrick's College, Silverstream.
He joined the Columbans in 1958 and did a Spiritual Year as Sassafras and Philosophy at Wahroonga before completing Philosophy and Theology at Turramurra. Archbishop McKeefry ordained him on July 2, 1964, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Wellington.
Taking up his appointment in South America, he travelled with Columban Frs Lyn Whitely, Peter Quinn, and Vince Walker to Peru, where he started his language studies. That same year, Frs Sean and Vince Walker were appointed to Chile.
Fr Sean worked in San Andres parish Santiago, first as an assistant and then, in 1968, took over as pastor. He also served as Regional Bursar in 1965/66. When Fr Lyn Whitely died in 1970, Fr Sean took over the parish of San Marcos.
In 1970, he was unconscious for ten days after a motorcycle accident, and in 1973, he spent 12 weeks in hospital with severe hepatitis.
Fr Sean spent the years between 1973 and 1978 in his home country of Aotearoa, New Zealand, promoting and acting as Mission Education Coordinator. He worked in the parish of Hoon Hay in Christchurch for a while before becoming the Office Manager at St Columban's in Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Fr Sean returned to Chile in 1978 and worked in several parishes before going home on vacation in 1984. From 1985 to 2000, he served in various roles, including Socius, Columban Vocation Coordinator, and Pastor of various parishes.
Fr Sean was appointed to the Australia/New Zealand Region for three years before returning to Chile in 2003, where he worked in the parish of Alto Hospicio and St Rita's in Iquique. He returned to New Zealand in 2007 and served in the Diocese of Auckland, first in Warkworth and then in Kaitaia.
Fr Sean now resides in Elizabeth Knox Home in Auckland, New Zealand.
Listen to "Fr Sean O'Connor marks 60th anniversary of ordination"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - July 2024
