[2] He received his early education at James Madison Elementary School, but was later transferred to the district's administration building to attend advanced classes.

[1] He continued his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[4] While a student, he enlisted in the U.S Army after the United States entered World War I.

[1] O'Connor then returned to Rome to earn a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Apollinare University in 1929.

[1] Returning to Pennsylvania in 1929, O'Connor was appointed secretary to Bishop Thomas O'Reilly and as chancellor of the diocese.

[2] O'Connor was named rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome on November 26, 1946, then still closed in the aftermath of World War II.

"[10] O'Connor allegedly disapproved of Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi's appointment as apostolic delegate to the United States.

[10] With the establishment of the curial office of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Pius XII named O'Connor as its first president in January 1948.

[13] In September 1963, in response to complaints by journalists about the lack of news sources, he was appointed to head a new press committee for the second session of the Council.