Fr Bernard Maurice O’Brien OMI, RIP
It is with great sadness that the Australian Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate received the news of the passing of Fr Bernard Maurice O’Brien OMI, on the 16th January 2021.
Fr Bernard was born on 12 December 1937 in Melbourne, one of four siblings, and educated by the Christian Brothers at Brunswick and North Melbourne. After meeting the Oblates through his summer holidays at Sorrento, he joined the Oblate Juniorate in Geelong in 1951 to complete his studies and discern his vocation. He joined the Oblate Novitiate at Sorrento in 1955 and was sent to study at Cedara, South Africa. He was ordained in Durban on 3rd February 1962.
His first obedience was to the teaching staff at Iona College from 1963 - 1977 followed by 5 years teaching at Mazenod College, Lesmurdie. Fr Bernard was one of the few Oblates who studied and trained specifically for primary education.
He moved from education ministry to parish ministry in 1983 as assistant at St Paul’s, Massey, New Zealand, for two years, then 6 years as parish priest at St Michael’s, North Melbourne. His next ministries were assisting at Dernancourt 1991 Apr- 95, Tea Tree Gully 1996 - 2000 and St John Vianney’s 2001 - 04. From 2005 to 2014 he ministered at Moe, the first 4 years as assistant, then as parish priest.
Early in 2014 he moved to Sorrento to assist, but his health deteriorated and in October 2018 he retired to Camberwell and moved the next month to aged care at East Hawthorn.
In January 2021 his health deteriorated and he died on 16th January at Cabrini Palliative Care, Prahran.
Fr Bernard was an open and approachable priest. His ministry was characterised by a warm and friendly pastoral approach, able to use his own sensitivities to connect with people very effectively.
We thank God for Fr Bernard’s faithful service to the Australia Province and Church for over 59 years.
The Oblates would like to extend their deepest sympathies and assurance of prayers to all of Fr Bernard’s family and friends.
Fr Bernard will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.
