December 27, 2016

Father Matthew J. O’Connor dies at 86; was director of Camp Holy Cross

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD – Father Matthew J. O’Connor, 86, a priest of the Springfield Diocese, died on Dec. 24 at Holyoke Medical Center.

A native of Holyoke, he was born on July 23, 1930, the son of the late Matthew J. and Mary (Kennedy) O’Connor and was a graduate of the former Sacred Heart High School in Holyoke.

He studied classics at St. Anselm’s College in Manchester, NH, from 1948 to 1950 and attended the Seminary of Philosophy in Montreal, Canada, from 1950 to 1952. He then completed theology studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore from 1952 to 1956.

He was ordained at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield on May 26, 1956 by Bishop Frederick A. Donaghy, the exiled bishop of Wuchow, China.

He served as a curate at Holy Cross Parish in Springfield from June 23 to July 29, 1956 and then served as chaplain at Mount St. Vincent Home in Holyoke from July 29 to Aug. 18, 1956. He again served as curate at Holy Cross Parish in Springfield from Aug. 18, 1956 to April 23, 1960.

Father O’Connor was appointed assistant director of youth activities for the Springfield Diocese on July 7, 1959 and on April 19, 1960 was appointed director of the Diocesan Camp Program at Camp Holy Cross in Goshen.

He was in residence at the former St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Haydenville in 1960 and 1961 and served as curate at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield from Oct. 15, 1960 to June 2, 1961. He was in residence at the former St. Patrick Parish in Chicopee from Nov. 15, 1961 to Sept. 9, 1972, when he moved to Our Lady of Hope Rectory in Springfield.

Father O’Connor taught at Cathedral High School in Springfield from 1961 to 1975.

He also served as an assistant pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Shelburne Falls in 1975. On May 1, 1976 he was appointed director of the Catholic Youth Center in Pittsfield, with residence at the former St. Teresa Parish there, while continuing as director of Camp Holy Cross.

Father O’Connor again taught at Cathedral High School from 1979 to 1981, when he left to pursue studies at Loyola/Mundelein College in Chicago where he earned a master of arts degree. He later taught at Cathedral High School again until 1992.

He retired from the position of director at Camp Holy Cross in September 2000.

He is survived by his brother, John (“Jack”) O’Connor and his wife, Juliann, of Worcester; a sister-in-law, Rosemary O’Connor, of Agawam; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary T. O’Connor, and two brothers, Thomas and Dennis O’Connor.

The wake for Father O’Connor will be held on Thursday, Dec. 29 from 4-7 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m., in St. Patrick Chapel at St. Jerome Church, Holyoke. The funeral will be Friday, Dec. 30 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Jerome Church, with burial in St. Jerome Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services, 228 West Lexington St., Baltimore, MD 21201-3413.