Amis, Cairde, Friends …. Welcome.

Welcome to our Chaplaincy website. We hope you enjoy your visit.

The Irish presence in the Latin Quarter stretches back more than 400 years, with the Irish College and its Chapelle Saint-Patrick at its heart. Today, the Chapelle Saint-Patrick continues to serve as a place of worship, welcome and pastoral care for the Irish in Paris. The current chaplain is Fr. Thomas O’Connor. As chaplain (aumônier), Fr O’Connor’s primary duty is to lead the Irish College Paris congregation in worship and to offer pastoral care to Irish people in the city.

Fr O’Connor is a native of Ballinabrackey, Co Meath and was ordained priest for the diocese of Meath in 1984. Educated in Kinnegad Boys National School, St Finian’s College, Mullingar and St Patrick’s College Maynooth, he completed a BA in history and geography (1980), a BD (1983) and an STL (1985). For three years (1985–88), he served as curate in the Cathedral Parish of Mullingar, prior to embarking on doctoral studies at the University of Paris IV-Paris Sorbonne and at l’Institut Catholique in 1988. He was awarded a DEA in 1991–92) and a PhD (history) and DD (theology) in 1993. Following two years as lecturer in theology and philosophy in St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny, he was appointed to the staff of St Patrick’s College Maynooth, as a member of the department of modern history in 1994.

During his 30 years as a member of the faculty of Arts at St Patrick’s College (from 1997 the National University of Ireland, Maynooth), he served as dean of the faculty of Arts (2009–2014) and as director of the Arts and Humanities Research Institute (2017–2024). He was awarded a professorship of history in 2016. Following his retirement and election as professor emeritus of history in 2024, he was appointed chaplain to the Irish in Paris for a two year period (2026–2028). He maintains research interests in the Irish and English diasporas in the early modern period and in the history of political thought, and the history of religion. He has been editor of Archivium Hibernicum and served as  member of the Irish Manuscripts Commission and of the Fondation irlandaise. Since 2012 he is Chevalier dans l’ordre des palmes académiques. Along with his pastoral duties, he is currently completing a book on the Irish diaspora in the Portuguese Inquisition and, with a team of colleagues, has begun work on a pictorial history of the Irish colleges in Paris and Rome, to mark their respective 450th and 400th jubilees.

Fr. Thomas is always happy to meet any of the Irish Community in Paris and to offer any pastoral assistance whenever necessary. The work of Chaplain includes everything from signing Passport applications through baptismal and marriage preparation, hospital and prison visitation and of course celebrating the weekly Sunday Mass in the beautiful Chapelle Saint-Patrick as well as lending a hand occasionally with the pastoral needs of our local parish St. Etienne du Mont.

The Catholic Church in Ireland has had a presence in the Latin Quarter for over 400 years. Since 1770, the centre of that presence has been the Collège des Irlandais and its Chapelle Saint-Patrick on the Rue des Irlandais.

The recently renovated Collège now houses the Centre Culturel Irlandais and the Chapelle Saint-Patrick continues to be a centre of worship and pastoral outreach to the Irish in Paris.

Should you have any notices, news, stories or photos for inclusion on our chaplaincy website please forward to info@irishchaplaincyparis.fr