Father Ronan O’Connor, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1875-1939)

Born January 19, 1875 in Montezuma, New York, he was the son of Thomas and Ellen O’Nervin O’Connor. After high school he went to the Passionist Preparatory College, Dunkirk, New York. He professed his vows on September 21, 1896 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was ordained to the priesthood on January 18, 1903 at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Newark, New Jersey. His first assignment was as a professor at St. Mary’s Monastery, Dunkirk where he was a faculty member then vice-director of students. He later taught at Brighton, Massachusetts; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Union City, New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland. When Holy Cross Seminary, Dunkirk first opened he was made the first vicar. From 1923 until 1924 he was professor of theology at St. Mary’s Monastery, Dunkirk. In 1925 he made an extensive trip of Europe, Egypt, and Palestine and when he returned he was stationed at Holy Cross Seminary, Dunkirk until his death. By the time he died in 1939 it was estimated that he had taught about one half of the priests who were alive at that time in St. Paul of the Cross Province.