Fr. Thomas John O'Connell

Thomas John O’Connell, known as the Archpriest Fr. T. J. O’Connell, P.P. was associated with the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Tatura, for 50 years. Born in Abbyvale Co. Limerick , he was ordained 22 June, 1884 at St John’s Waterford , had been priest at Tatura since 1896 having previously part of the Dookie mission and also at Bendigo. The original Tatura parish included Murcheson, Underra, Rushworth and other localities on the Goulburn plains. Churches were built at Byrneside, Undera, Tatura and Rushworth where Fr O’Connell had the support of an enthusiastic parish community. A son of John Peter O’Connell and Mary [born Maloney], he had been in Australia since not long after his ordination. Fr O’Connell, with his nephew made a trip to Europe and Ireland in 1923. His sympathies with Irelend were not secret, he made a spirited call for nationhood in a speech regarding Terrence McSwiney, Mayor of Cork, executed in 1920 for his part in the ‘rising. So the visit in 1923 may well be of some significance. O’Connell had arranged 2 successful Queen competioions in 1916 and 1922. The 1922 ‘Queen Contest’ raised £2265, with Archbishop Mannix and local Bishop Dr. McCarthy on the dais to add moment to the occasion. These contests were also occasions for showing sympathy with Ireland. At his Golden Jubilee in 1934, he was accorded the title Archpriest. Thomas died aged 86 at the Presbytery, Tatura, 7 March 1945.

1945 Vic # 17426 1909 'Silver Jubilee of the Rev. Fr. O'Connell, Tatura.', Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), 3 July, p. 17. , viewed 30 Dec 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170908268 1945 'OBITUARY', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 8 March, p. 5. , viewed 30 Dec 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1109818 1950 'Memories and Musings', Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), 28 September, p. 12. , viewed 30 Dec 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172514326