Société des Missions Africaines 

né le 9 mars 1924 à Cashel dans le diocèse de Cashel & Emly, Irlande membre de la SMA le 1er juillet 1943 prêtre le 18 juin 1947 décédé le 3 mars 1986

1947-1951 Cork, études 1951-1978 missionnaire au Nigeria diocèse de Jos 1979-1986 au service du diocèse de Limerick décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 3 mars 1986, à l'âge de 62 ans

Thomas O'Connor was born in Cashel, Co Tipperary, in the archdiocese of Cashel and Emily, on 9 March 1924. He died, following a heart attack, in the South Infirmary, Cork, on 3 March 1986.

Tom studied with the Christian Brothers, in Cashel, from 1936 1941, before entering the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. He studied theology in the Society's seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down, from 1943 1947. Tom was received as a member of the Society on 1 July 1943, and was ordained a priest by Bishop Eugene O'Doherty of Dromore diocese, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 18 June 1947. He was one of a group of sixteen ordained on that day.

After ordination Tom studied at U.C.C. for three years, taking a B.A. arts degree in June 1951 (his subjects were English and history). In the autumn of that year he set sail for the prefecture of Jos, in northern Nigeria. The Jos jurisdiction had been established in 1934 when the mission to northern Nigeria (founded in 1907) was divided into two separate jurisdictions, centred at Jos and Kaduna. By the time Tom reached his mission the Church in Jos was becoming self confident and assertive, and its members were clamouring for increased educational facilities, including secondary schools. These developments were to be recognised by Propaganda Fide in 1953 when, after the erection of the hierarchy in Nigeria, Jos became a diocese in its own right. John Reddington, first bishop of Jos diocese, immediately set about the development of a wide range of educational and medical facilities for his people. Tom O'Connor was to play an important part in Bishop Reddington's plans.

Tom was to serve in the diocese from 1951 until 1978, over a quarter of a century. During these years he made a significant contribution to education. Tom's first tour of duty (1951-1955) was spent on the staff of Mary Immaculate teacher training college, Kafanchan, Kaduna state (C.M.I.). This was the college which supplied the elementary school teachers for the ever increasing number of diocesan schools. Leo McNeill was principal when Tom joined the staff and there were about 100 students in training. In November 1955 Tom returned to Ireland on his first home leave. He was re-appointed to C.M.I. in August 1956. Jim Murphy was now principal and there were five Fathers on the staff.

In March 1958 Tom's brother, John Noel, and three children were lost in a house fire. Tom's sister-in-law had not only lost her husband but also all her children. Hence, in June 1958 Tom was given compassionate leave to be with the family. John returned to Nigeria in January 1959, to C.M.I. where Mick Drew was now principal. In 1962, Tom fell ill and was invalided home to Ireland. He returned to his mission in January 1963, and was appointed principal of C.M.I. He was to remain principal for much of his subsequent missionary career. He also worked in St. Murumba's secondary school for boys (in Jos town) and in Pankshin community college. For a period he was an inspector for the department of education in Plateau state, a post which gives some indication of the esteem in which he was held not only in Church circles but by the government. Tom spent his last years in Jos in the pastoral ministry.

In 1979, when Limerick diocese twinned with the S.M.A. to send volunteers to Jos, Tom was appointed to St. Munchin's parish in Limerick and also served as chaplain to St. Camillus hospital. On Christmas Day 1985 he suffered a heart attack. He recovered well and was convalescing in Blackrock Road when on the morning of 3 March 1986, while setting out for the funeral of an S.M.A. confrère, Tom Greene, at Wilton, he had a further attack and died shortly afterwards. Tom was an uncle of Michael M. Evans S.M.A. His brother, James, was parish priest of Drom and Inch (archdiocese of Cashel).

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.