Seventh Provincial of Region, 1962-1968
John V. O’Connor was born on May 29, 1916 in Cambridge, MA to Matthew and Margaret (Falvey) O’Connor. He graduated from Boston College High School and then entered the Society on July 30, 1933 at Shadowbrook, Lenox, MA where he studied until 1937. He attended Weston College, Weston MA to study philosophy from 1937 until 1940 and then Boston College for graduate work in Latin from 1940 until 1941. He taught Latin to sophomores at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA from 1941 until 1942. He then studied theology at Weston College, Weston, MA from 1942 until 1946 where he also was ordained on June 16, 1945 by Bishop Emmett, SJ of Jamaica. His tertianship was at St. Robert’s Hall, Pomfret, CT from 1946 until 1947. Then he attended Gregorian University, Rome, Italy to study ascetical theology from 1947 until 1949. He returned to Weston College to teach ascetical theology and dogma from 1949 until 1954 and also served as prefect of studies at the school from 1951 until 1954.
In 1954 he was named Socius of the New England Province serving until 1956 when he returned to Weston College as rector until 1962. From July 31, 1962 until June 13, 1968, he was Provincial of the New England Province.
From 1968 until 1973, he was executive secretary for the American Provincials Conference/Jesuit Conference, Washington, D.C. In 1973 he was appointed executive director of CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolates), Washington, D.C., serving until 1981. From 1981 until 1986 he served as the director of social action for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. From 1986 until 1994 he was the director of the Office of Interreligious & Ecumenical Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. and was its special consultant from 1994 until 1995. In 1995 he returned to the New England Province, living at Campion Center, Weston, MA. He died September 21, 1995 at Campion Center.