We asked Monsignor O’Connor for his memories as a vocation director for the Church in Georgia. In this article he kindly commented.

In the year 1950, when appointed by the cardinals and archbishops of the United States to be the fourth director of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located on the campus of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., I began heading pilgrimage groups to the Shrine of Our Lady in Ireland, Canada, and Europe during vacation periods.

I had been appointed a member of the faculty of the university in 1936. Previously, I had graduated from the college department of the university and had had the privilege of being present at the laying of the cornerstone of the National Shrine in the fall of 1920. My appointment as the director of the Shrine took place 30 years after James Cardinal Gibbons, archbishop of Baltimore and chancellor of the university layed the cornerstone.

It was the first time, to date, that a graduate of the university had been selected for this work honoring the patroness of our land. Having attended services in the crypt of the Shrine during college days, my love for the Shrine and what it was to represent to Americans of all cultural backgrounds, grew deeply.

In 1950, I was summoned to the office of the then rector, Bishop Patrick J. McCormick of Catholic University, and was told that besides my teaching duties, I would also serve as the director of the National Shrine. This was later confirmed by the national board for the Shrine, consisting of the cardinals, archbishops, bishops and laymen.

I was overcome by the immensity of the task! Only the crypt had been built at a cost of $3 million. I immediately went from the rector’s office to the main altar of the crypt and dedicated my services to Our Immaculate Mother, promising that I would do all that I could, if she would help.

Bishop Thomas J. Shahan, one of the early rectors of Catholic University, was the founder of the Shrine. He was rector when I entered as a student. Archbishop John Noll was the inspired builder of the Shrine, urging the members of the hierarchy to take a national collection for this purpose. He promised them it would be the largest collection ever taken in this rich country! Some fortuitous events happened – a Marian Year was declared by the Pope, and the bishops set aside one Sunday for a collection to finish the superstructure! On that day, $15 million was collected!

The work of building the superstructure was immediately begun and the Shrine now stands for all to see – a beautiful tribute of the American people to their Mother, the Mother of God! Millions visit the Shrine yearly to pay tribute and to admire its beauty.

As the director, I had and have great devotion to Our Lady under one of her dearest titles – Queen of the Clergy! As a member of the faculty, I served in various capacities, Dean of Men was one, and I came in contact with students who might possibly have a vocation to the priesthood. From the earliest years of my priesthood, I began with God’s help, to interest young men in the priesthood, and also the opportunity to serve as priest in my beloved native state which, in the beginning, was the Diocese of Savannah for which I had been ordained. The fact is evident that there has always been a scarcity of vocations in this section of God’s vineyard.

Idea Is Born

For my vacation periods away from the Shrine and the university, I lead pilgrimage groups to shrines of Our Lady. The first trip was to the famous Shrine of Our Lady of Knock in Ireland. Accompanied by a large crowd and several priests, we were greeted by His Grace, Archbishop Walsh of Tuam at the Shrine. This arrangement had been made by the Apostolic Nuncion to Ireland, our own ordinary, Gerald Patrick O’Hara. The beauty of the country, the friendliness of the people impressed me deeply, but the deepest impression made upon me was the number of colleges and seminaries that dotted the land! The scarcity of priests in Georgia was ever utmost in my thoughts.

Here, in 1950, was born the idea that upon my return to Georgia, something would have to be done about this. In 1952, with the ready cooperation of Monsignor Moylan, V.G., and the permission of the bishop, was begun the Mission Apostolate of Georgia. It had two purposes – one to beg money for the Church in the state and secondly, to seek vocations. The apostolate was managed by me “on the side” from the university, and in the early years, assisted by willing priests from Georgia. We would visit churches throughout the country on Sunday and beg for our diocesan needs which were many for a growing Church.

Always I was on the lookout for candidates for the priesthood – in this country and in Ireland. Twenty-five years have passed, God has blessed the work, and Mary, Queen of the Clergy, has ever had us under her protection!

Vocations from Ireland

Ireland is a fruitful field – the devotion of the people, the love the young men there have for God has ever made it a productive place for vocations. Annual trips have been made to the great and notable seminaries of Ireland, All Hallows, Carlow, St. John’s at Waterford, St. Patrick’s at Thurles, Maynooth, the secondary schools of the Patrician Brothers, the Christian Brothers, Mt. Mellerlay, conducted by the Cistercian Fathers and the Presentation Brothers were all visited annually. Our visits to this date have seen us royally welcomed by the presidents and rectors during the terms of office of fine different heads of these institutions! Some of the great men have gone to their eternal reward, some have been selected to the cardinalate and episcopacy, some pastors of thriving parishes.

The burden of the work, and there are burdens, have been considerably lightened by the appointment of the Very Reverend Edward Dillon as assistant.

The tree has borne “good fruit!” Miles have been traveled, friendships have been made, cold weather has been endured, and lonesomeness experienced in the early years! The Irish, with their great hearts have given no rebuffs, only help and inspiration.

The Church in America is deeply indebted for the gift of faith brought to them by the Irish missionaries in the past and in the present. I rejoice that God has selected me to be His instrument of influence to so many young men who have come as priests, to lead His people to eternity. May Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, continue to bless this work among our native young men and among the Irish lads.

The following young men have answered the call to serve in the Diocese of Savannah, then the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Some have gone to their reward, may God be good to their souls. To the ones who still labor among us, may God bless their work abundantly. For their answer to the “call,” I am grateful. In their noble endeavors and their blessed work, I hope to share and in their hearts and prayers, I beg a remembrance.

Rev. Walter Donovan, St. Bernard’s, Rochester; Rev. Msgr. Neil Maloney (deceased), Theological College; Rev. Msgr. R. Donald Kiernan, Mt. St. Mary’s; Rev. Daniel J. O’Connor, St. Mary’s, Roland Park; Rev. Edward O’Connor, Maynooth, Ireland; Rev. Richard Kieran, Maynooth, Ireland; Rev. John Kieran, All Hallows, Dublin; Rev. Paul Fogarty, St. Patricks, Carlow; Rev. Edward Dillon, St. Patrick’s, Carlow; Rev. Noel Burtenshaw, All Hallows, Dublin, Rev. Noel Neary, St. Kiernans, Kilkenny; Rev. Michael Woods, All Hallows, Dublin; Rev. Michael Hogan, All Hallows, Dublin; Rev. James Fennessey, All Hallows, Dublin; Rev. John Mulroy, St. Mary’s, Roland Park; Rev. Thomas Kenny, All Hallows, Dublin; Rev. Patrick Padden, St. Patrick’s, Thurles; Rev. Liam Tuffy, All Hallows, Dublin, Rev. Peter Ludden, All Hallows, Dublin; Rev. Patrick J. McCormick, North American College, Rome; Rev. Leo Herbert, All Hallows, Dublin; Rev. Terrence Kane, St. Patrick’s, Carlow; Rev. Michael Redden, St. Patrick’s, Thurles; Rev. Hugh Marren, St. Johns, Waterford; Rev. James Boyce (deceased), North American College, Rome; Rev. Simon Slattery, All Hallows, Dublin.

Obtained For Savannah

Rev. Msgr. Marvin LeFrois, St. Bernard’s, Rochester; Rev. Ralph Seikel, St. Mary’s, Roland Park; Rev. Robert Teoli, St. Mary’s Seminary, Roland Park; Rev. John Cuddy, St. Mary’s, Roland Park; Rev. Timothy Ryan, All Hallows, Dublin; Rev. Perot Fiero (deceased), Mt. St. Mary’s, and Rev. Martin Dennehy, Bridgeport, Conn.

Jointly Obtained 76-77-78

(Studying In Ireland)

Rev. Mr. Austin Fogarty, St. Peters, Wexford; John Finn, St. Johns, Waterford; Fegus Mynall, St. Johns, Waterford; Richard Milord, Rosecommon; Michael Clancy, St. Patrick’s, Thurles; John Mulloy, St. Patrick’s, Carlow; Richard (Ray) Meehan, St. Johns, Waterford, and Gerard Watson, All Hallows, Dublin.