Brian Harris was born in Ipswich on the 11th April, 1934, into a Catholic but non-practicing family. He encountered the church in his late teens. He attended Brisbane State High School, Ipswich Boys Grammar and Kelvin Grove Teachers Training College. He worked as a primary school teacher for a couple of years, before working in the public service as an industrial inspector. He tried to join the Oblates while in his early 20s – he went to Eagle Junction and spoke to Tom McDermott, who discerned he was not ready yet to pursue a vocation, and suggested marriage instead.
Brian married Kathleen Mahoney in 1959, and had 6 children. He worked for the Department of Industrial Development in various locations - Longreach, Mackay and 20 years in Rockhampton, where he became Regional Officer. After the death of his wife in 1981 he felt the call of his vocation, he joined the Oblates at Mulgrave in 1989. He was ordained on 17th December 1993 at Deception Bay, Brisbane. His children and grandchildren have been supportive of his vocation.
He served firstly as Assistant Priest, Mary Immaculate Eagle Vale for 4 and a half years, followed by 6 months assisting at St Paul’s, Massey New Zealand. This was followed by two short term stints, at St Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle as Hospital Chaplain then 18 months at St David’s, Tea Tree Gully before being Novice Master, St Mary’s Seminary Mulgrave, from October 2000 Oct to 2003.
The next 4 years were spent assisting at St Eugene de Mazenod, Burpengary then 4 years at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sefton before returning in 2012 to assisting at St Eugene de Mazenod, Burpengary where he remained until 2020. In that year he underwent cancer treatment and in 2021 retired while remaining living at Burpengary.
Fr Brian is a gentle, prayerful, very pastoral priest with a love of serving the sick. He is quietly determined, very respectful of people, and loves Our Lady and the Eucharist.
His great ability to care attracts people, as does his experience as a married man, parent and grandparent. He is able to build bonds with people of all ages.
Fr Brian Harris OMI passed away on 23rd February, 2023.
Funeral Details
The Funeral Mass will to celebrate the life of Fr Brian Harris OMI at St Eugene’s Parish, Burpengary Queensland on Tuesday 7th March at 10:30am AEST (The funeral is in Brisbane which does not have Daylight savings)
Live streamed link available https://www.qualitymemorial.services/brian-harris
Brisbane (Australia – Queensland)Tuesday, 7 March 2023 at 10:30:00 amAESTUTC+10 hours
Melbourne (Australia – Victoria)Tuesday, 7 March 2023 at 11:30:00 amAEDTUTC+11 hours
Perth (Australia – Western Australia)Tuesday, 7 March 2023 at 8:30:00 amAWSTUTC+8 hours
Sydney (Australia – New South Wales)Tuesday, 7 March 2023 at 11:30:00 amAEDTUTC+11 hours
Adelaide (Australia – South Australia)Tuesday, 7 March 2023 at 11:00:00 amACDTUTC+10:30 hours
