REV FATHER PATRICK J. O'HARA
History of Santa Clara, Sawyer, published 1922
When ever the historian shall address himself to the
delightful task of penning the history of Los Gatos, he will not fail
to record the life and labors of the Rev Father Patrick J O'Hara. and
in the recording thereof find inspiration. He was born at Omagh, County
Tyrone, Ireland, June 17, 1871, the son of Francis and Susan
(McWilliams) O'Hara, both natives of County Tyrone descended from
ancient Irish families. Francis O'Hara was a prominent merchant
in Omagh. He passed away at the age of ninety years and his widow
survived him one year, she, too, being almost ninety years of age at
the time of her death. This worthy couple were the parents of ten
children, all living, of whom Patrick J. is the fifth. He attended
Christian Brothers' College in his native place until he was twelve
years of age, when he entered the Jesuit College of Clongowes Wood,
where he made his classics and philosophy. Next he studied at the
American College at Louvain, Belgium. On completing his course at
Louvain he came to San Francisco, Cal. in 1899, and soon afterwards he
made his way to St. Paul. Minn., where he was ordained to the
priesthood at the Cathedral in St. Paul by Archbishop Ireland for the
diocese of San Francisco.
His first appointment was as assistant at St. Patrick's Church, San
Francisco, under Rev Father Cummings; and he continued to discharge
that responsibility for five years. then he served as assistant
pastor at other places in the dioceses. His first pastorate was
at St. Mary's Church, Cotati, Sonoma County, where he officiated for
two years. During this time Father O'Hara built the new church and this
and parochial residence at Cotati and brought the parish to a
successful and sound financial basis. In 1917 he was appointed
pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, at Los Gatos. He has
a large territory to to look after, stretching from the summit of the
Santa Cruz Mountains to Campbell, and including about 400 families, but
he is untiring in his arduous work as shepherd of his flock, and is
esteemed and beloved by all who know him. He takes a deep
interest in civic affairs, and he is particularly active in the Knights
of Columbus. With the same zeal and ardor, he is building up the
parish and has materially reduced the indebtedness placed on it by the
erection of the beautiful church and rectory. St. Mary's parish
was established by the Jesuits about eighteen years ago, but they
relinquished the parish in 1913 and Father Barshab was the first pastor
to take the helm, until his transfer to Sausalito , when he was succeed
by the present incumbent.
While attending the American College at Louvain, Father O'Hara's
vacations were spent in travel, having visited every county on the
continent. He had the pleasure of visiting Rome and was fortunate
in having an audience with Pope Leo. In 1902, and
again in 1906 he made trips back to Ireland, where he
visited his parents, who were still living at the old home, and in
later years he also traveled over the British Isles.
However, on his return to his beloved adopted home in California he was
more pleased than ever to get back to his favored section of the world.
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