O'Connor's calmness, service to St. Patrick celebrated

Jul. 18—POTTSVILLE — Although they came from different states, Monsignor Charles J. Parry said he and his friend Monsignor Edward J. O'Connor's paths in ministry mirrored each other.

"We were ordained on the same day," May 23, 1981, the Maryland native said.

More than 100 people gathered at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate the life and ministry of O'Connor, the church's longtime pastor, who died July 10. It was also livestreamed on the church's Facebook page.

Those in attendance included priests, deacons and seminarians from across the diocese, as well as St. Patrick parishioners. They were greeted as they arrived by black curtains over the church's entrance.

It was celebrated by the Most Rev. Alfred A. Schlert, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, and included more than 30 concelebrants from across the five-county diocese, eight of whom were principal concelebrants. Among them was the church's pastor, the Rev. Philip F. Rodgers, and parochial vicar, the Rev. Barnabas Shayo, A.J.; along with Monsignor William F. Glosser, V.F., dean of Schuylkill County and pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Saint Clair and Holy Cross Parish in New Philadelphia; and Monsignor Edward S. Zemanik, pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Schuylkill Haven.

O'Connor, 65, died as he was about to concelebrate a funeral at the church on Mahantongo Street, where he was pastor for 19 years. He retired last month and became pastor emeritus.

Schlert said during the Mass, which he used O'Connor's chalice, that O'Connor died "ready to perform yet another priestly act of mercy."

While not in attendance, Schlert said he received calls of sympathy about his passing from Mahanoy City native Joseph Kurtz, archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky; Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg Bishop and Pottsville native Ronald Gainer; and his predecessors, John Barres and Edward Cullen.

In his homily, Parry, the pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Rockville, Maryland, recalled their friendship, which began when they both entered St. Pius X Seminary outside Dalton, Lackawanna County, at 18 years old. They would later go on to attend Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland, where they were roommates. Some of O'Connor's classmates were among those in attendance.

The then-seminarians would frequently visit each other's homes on free weekends, with O'Connor's family embracing him and Parry welcoming him into his "southern family," he said.

"We made quite a pair," Parry told the crowd.

He called his late friend, whom he would visit often at his Pottsville church, "a good priest and man" who served the people of God to the best of his ability, accepting them without judgement. O'Connor also had a quiet and calming disposition, Parry recalled.

Despite health issues, he said O'Connor's faith flourished and he never complained about the problems.

He said one of O'Connor's last lessons was to "never underestimate the power of human suffering under almighty God," adding he was "a gift to the church."

Schlert said during the Mass that St. Patrick "lost a very good friend."

The bishop recalled his dedication to youth and through his work with Catholic Charities, the "plight of the marginalized and poor."

During the Mass, Schlert extended his prayers and condolences to O'Connor's family members in attendance and thanked the parish for nourishing O'Connor's vocation, adding that through his example, more vocations would flourish.

"We are very grateful to O'Connor's life," he said. "I pray that monsignor will always influence the life of the church."

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