Death of the Rev. M. Brennan, Sydney Morning Herald, 24 October 1864, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13102817:

The reverend Michael Brennan (the Roman Catholic clergyman of Penrith for the last fourteen years), died at Parramatta, after eight or ten hours' illness, on Saturday morning at ten o'clock. The immediate cause of the lamented gentleman's decease was paralysis. He was attacked on Friday evening on his way to Wollongong to see the Archbishop, and never rallied after the first seizure. A solemn dirge will, this day, be sung at St. Patrick's Church, Parramatta, for the repose of his soul, after which the funeral procession will move towards Penrith, where the body is to be interred. The reverend gentleman was much respected by members of all denominations as well as by those of his own communion. One of his last acts was to set on foot and bring to a successful issue a movement for the relief of the French Marist Missionaries at Clydesdale, who suffered considerably in the recent calamitous floods.

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Death of the Rev. Michael Brennan, Freeman’s Journal, Sydney, 26 October 1864, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128800594:

We have this week to announce the melancholy intelligence of a great loss to religion and to society by the death of the Rev. Michael Brennan. Of high character—great learning, and edifying piety of life, he occupied and adorned a conspicuous position in our Holy Church. The respect entertained for him by those who had not the happiness of being under his spiritual direction was generally manifested on Monday last when his ashes were conveyed to their last resting place. Grouped around the little grave—under the shadow of the church in which for so many years the dear priest laboured and loved —were men and women of all religious opinions— and the clergymen of other churches. In the midst of the heavy calamities from which we have been suffering, in the loss within a brief period of so many of the valiant soldiers of Christ-— it is a melancholy consolation to find the world applauding their heroism and reverencing their virtues. We append a memoir of the deceased and an account of his funeral.

The Rev. Michael Brennan was 54 years of age and was born in the city of Limerick. His first years of study for the ecclesiastical state were spent in the college of Carlow, under the Very. Rev. Dr. Slattery, afterwards Archbishop of Cashel. He next entered the college of Maynooth, where he went through the divinity course preparatory to receiving Holy Orders. When about to receive the priesthood, he chose Australia for the scene of his future labours, and was ordained for this Archdiocese by the late Most Rev. Dr. Murray, Archbishop of Dublin. He arrived in Sydney in 1838, with the late Dr. Murphy, Bishop of Adelaide, Very Rev. Dean Rigney, and the Very Rev. Dr. Fitzpatrick, the present Vicar-General of the diocese of Melbourne and four other priests. His missionary labours have extended through a vast extent of the colony, having had charge of a mission in Sydney, Goulburn, Parramatta, and during the last thirteen or fourteen years the large district of Penrith. Whilst in charge of the mission of Goulburn, he built the church there. On his appointment to the mission of Penrith he found the church heavily in debt, this he has all paid off, and built, in connection with it, a very handsome presbytery. One very agreeable feature about the Penrith church is the beautiful manner in which the grounds are laid out, being planted with handsome trees and flowers. The deceased clergyman had not been in good health for some months past, but immediately previous to his fatal malady had apparently recovered his wonted health. On last Wednesday he left home with the intention of visiting his Grace the Archbishop, who is sojourning at Wollongong for the benefit of his health, as his Grace had expressed a desire to see him. He proceeded to Parramatta where he spent the following day, on the evening of which he crossed over to the Convent at Subiaco and gave benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. When this ceremony was over he left the Convent and went to Mr. Cranny's in Parramatta, there to see an old and respected friend. He was still apparently well and wrote some letters, the last of which was addressed to the Very Rev. Dr. Forrest, the Rector of St. John's College. Immediately afterwards he felt a numbness coming over him and he was induced to remain there, and not go to Dean Sumner's as he proposed, and he had only time to take off his watch, and hand some papers to Mrs. John Dwyer, who happened to be staying in the same house, when the fatal stroke of paralysis came with its full force upon him. He became speechless and was taken up to his room. The Very Rev. Dean Sumner was immediately sent for, who, finding the Rev. gentleman in such a dangerous state, immediately anointed him and administered the sacrament of Extreme Unction. During the whole night he remained in the same state, and on Friday morning a telegram was dispatched to the Vicar-General, who lost no time in hastening to Parramatta to be by the bed side of one of his fellow labourers. To all appearances the right side of the Rev. gentleman was quite dead, but he was able to hold the crucifix in the left hand, and when it dropped from his fingers he appeared to feel for it. From this it is supposed that although unable to notify to those around him any consciousness, he still retained some of his faculties. From the moment of the fatal attack medical attendance was obtained, but all the skill was of no avail. He continued in this state till about half-past ten on Saturday morning when he expired.

Funeral.
On Saturday evening the body was removed to St. Patrick's church, Parramatta, where during the night it was watched by the brethren of St. Patrick's Guild. On Sunday morning a solemn Mass was chanted by the Very Rev. Dean Sumner, deacon Rev. M. J. Dwyer, sub-deacon Rev. P. O'Farrell, at which the Ven. Archdeacon McEncroe, Very Rev. Dean O'Connell, Fathers Kenyon and Ambrosoli assisted. The Vicar General proceeded to Penrith to celebrate Mass there, and most of Father Brennan's flock were unconscious of the loss they had sustained, until it was announced to them during mass. The grief was universal and many were heard giving vent to it in sobs and tears. Arrangements were made for the funeral to take place on Monday morning. A solemn dirge was recited at 9 o'clock, after which a Requiem Mass was celebraled by the Very Rev. Vicar- General, at which the following clergymen were present:—Ven. Archdeacon McEncroe, Very Rev. Deans Sumner and O'Connell, Revs. T. McCarthy, Kenyon, Curley, Cook, Young, Conway, Garavel, and Ambrosoli.

At the close of the dirge the Venerable Archdeacon McEncroe addressed the congregation from the altar quoting the words of St. Paul, "That we die daily." For at every moment, since the fall of Adam up to the present, some of his descendants are paying the penalty of death incurred by the stain of original sin. The whole human race may be considered as forming an immense procession from the cradle to the grave, and each one advancing in the order of God's providence, at the summons of death, to give up the soul to God who made it, and the body to the earth out of which it was formed. We have daily and hourly instances of the work of death thinning the ranks, both of Priests and people. Within the last nine months we have had to mourn over the graves of five or six of our zealous and laborious missionary priests, and we are now surrounding the mortal remains of one who was esteemed by all who enjoyed the consolation of his acquaintance, the lamented Father Brennan, whose kind, benevolent and compassionate dispositions won for him the respect and esteem of persons of every denomination with whom he came in contact in the discharge of his sacred duties through out the several districts of the colony, in which he had laboured in his Master's vineyard for the last 26 years. I can never forget the Sunday morning in 1838, whilst I was celebrating mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, when I noticed the entrance of an old and esteemed fellow-student, the Very Rev. Dr Murphy, accompanied by six fellow labourers for the Australian mission, of whom our departed friend, the Rev. Michael Brennan, was one. This was indeed a most welcome and acceptable accession to the few priests, who were then labouring in this most extensive mission. The benefits derived from their incessant labours soon became perceptible, in the formation of congregations, and the erection of new churches in the several parts of the colony where hitherto a Priest had seldom been seen, or where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was rarely celebrated. Many of these good priests are passing off rapidly. I trust to receive the reward that the Lord of the Vineyard had promised to his faithful servants in these consoling words of the holy scripture. ''Well done thou good and faithful servant because thou hast been faithful over a few things I will place thee over many; enter thou into the joy of the Lord." It has been my melancholy duty to assist at the obsequies of some of my fellow labourers within this year—all of whom were several years younger than I am, and the thought has often occurred to me that God has taken them because they were better prepared and left me for a few years longer perhaps, to do penance for my sins: for our Saviour declares that unless we do penance, we cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven. I cannot fail on this occasion to express my humble thanks to the Giver of all good gifts, who has conferred so many spiritual blessings on Australia, for since my arrival more than two and thirty years ago, a great and consoling change has taken place, both in Parramatta and in every other town throughout the colony. On my first visit to Parramatta a prisoner's bark hut occupied the site of the present beautiful church of St. Patrick's in which we are assembled. I had then to celebrate mass in the upper story of a watch-house, while the clanking of chains, and the turmoil of prisoners was going on underneath. Having been to Wollongong last week to visit his Grace the Archbishop (whom I was glad to find improving in health) I noticed the weather worn ruins of the old prison stockade, in which I celebrated the first mass about thirty one years ago. What a contrast to the excellent church of St. Francis Xavier, that now stands prominent not far from those ruins. All these changes for the better are no doubt the work of the right hand of the Most High, carried out during a course of years under the judicious direction of our indefatigable Archbishop. No doubt a good deal of the progress of religion and education, and the building of churches, is owing to the wise and beneficent provisions of the Church Act, introduced by one of our best and most far seeing governors, the lamented Sir Richard Bourke. And although this salutary act has been most unwisely and unjustly repealed I trust that the people, who had undoubted vested rights under that act to get a moderate share of the sums they contribute to the public revenue, towards the support of the ministers of religion who labour in the great work of extending the blessings of religion throughout all parts of this immense colony, will make every constitutional effort to have that act restored in its integrity. We want nothing but our rights, and nothing less shall satisfy us. I need not tell you that the people of the impoverished districts of Penrith, Singleton, and other localities that have lost their clergymen within this year, will find it difficult indeed to contribute to the support of their respective pastors. While I now invite you to join in prayer and supplication to the God of Mercy, to cleanse and purify the soul of our dear departed friend, the Reverend Michael Brennan, from every stain of sin through the all atoning blood of our Blessed Saviour, I earnestly beg of you to pray without ceasing to the Prince of Pastors, to send an efficient supply of labourers into this present desolate portion of his vineyard where the harvest is so great and the labourers so few. For without a constant supply of faithful pastors to instruct the people in their Christian duties, this country must fall back into a state of immorality, disorder, and crime. But I humbly trust that the Wise Disposer of all things, who has taken away so many of His faithful servants within a short period of time, will supply their places with others filled with a holy spirit, and according to His own wise ordinations.

When the absolution had been read, the procession was at once formed and proceeded at a slow pace through Parramatta followed by a large concourse of people. Many of the places of business through which the mournful cortege passed were closed, a mark of respect which was joined in by many of our Protestant brethren. When once out of the town the followers on foot returned and the procession, headed by his Grace's carriage in which were the Vicar General, Archdeacon McEncroe and Dean O'Connell, proceeded to Penrith. There were a large number of carriages, and persons on horseback followed until it reached nearly three quarters of a mile in length. Arrangements were made for the funeral to reach Penrith as near to three o'clock as possible. A large number of persons left Sydney by the nine o'clock train going right through to Penrith to be present at the final ceremony over the remains of a good priest. At the appointed time a procession was formed at the church headed by the members of the juvenile guild, then the brethren of the Parramatta branch and lastly the brethren of the Sydney Guild, all wearing their religious costumes. After them followed an immense concourse of people from the surrounding districts. The following lay-Fellows of St. John's College were present:—Messrs. Hart, Gorman, and Ellis. Beside the clergy mentioned as having been present in Parramatia the following joined the procession to the church:—The Very Rev. Prior Sheridan, Very Rev. Dr. Forrest, Rev. P. Hallinan, D.D., Fathers Ford, Monnier and Rondell, French Marists from Clydesdale. The lay Fellows of St. John's College with those clergymen who had repaired direct to Penrith met the funeral procession about half a mile from St. Mary's South Creek. There was a heavy shower at this time but which fortunately did not last long. On the procession arriving at the church the Very Rev. S. A. Sheehy proceeded to bless the ground in which the tomb is built. The corpse was carried by the members of the Guild into the church, the clergy meanwhile chanting the anthem, "In Paradisum." The Vicar- General read the absolution and what then remained of mortal of the Rev. Michael Brennan was lowered into its final resting-place. On the coffin was placed a wreath of roses by some of the young ladies of the Convent of Subiaco. Those of our readers who have visited the church of Penrith will have noticed that on entering the gate leading to it there is a beautifully laid out piece of ground in a semi-circular form having for its base the length of the church. In the middle of this ground is built the vault, and no one can enter the church without seeing the resting place of the good and pious priest Father Brennan. The mourning in Penrith was universal and was not confined to Catholics alone. There was scarcely one place of business open, and whilst the procession passed the Church of England at St. Mary's South Creek, and also at Penrith, the bells were tolled. Amongst those present in the procession and in the church we noticed the Rev. Messrs. Vidal and Smith, (Church of England) J. Ryan, M.L.A., Drs. Clark and Wilmott, Messrs. McCarthy, J.P., Lethbridge, J.P., Pye, Brooks, Reid. Mathews, &c.

Father Brennan's charity was universal, and on no occasion was he known to have allowed an object worthy of relief to appeal to him in vain. The very last act of his was so characteristic of a charitable soul that we cannot close this melancholy notice without relating it. Our readers may be aware that near Richmond there is an establishment conducted by French Marists. During the late session of floods they suffered considerably, and but for Father Brennan their loss would not have been repaired for a considerable time. But the lamented priest always seeking for an opportunity to do good visited his French brethren and seeing the sad havoc committed by the floods at once determined to do what lay in his power to relieve them. With the permission of his Grace he sent circulars to his fellow- priests and a few lay friends, and last week he had the unbounded satisfaction of handing over to the Rev. Pere Monnier the representative of Bishop Battallion the handsome sum of £163. What a glorious termination to a life devoted to doing good to his fellow men.

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 1, 1979, p 33:

Brennan, Michael. Irish
(F.P. Vol. 1, No. 8)
Soggarth Aroon
b. Co. Limerick in 1810 (circa); ed.W'ford and/or CW; ord. 1838. Arr. Syd. with other men of '38 on the barque 'Cecilia', July. First priest to live at Yass '38-'40. Parramatta '40-'43. Goulburn '43-'47, setting up first structures in Goul. and in Bungonia. Return to Parramatta '47-'52, erecting a church that was replaced in '54. Penrith '52-'64, during which period he was vocal and prominent in anti-transportation moves. Described at his death on 24.10.1864 as a "man of courteous bearing, refined tastes, and priestly life". Age: 54. Burial: Penrith Church.
Ref.: The Men of '38, by John O'Brien (late Mgr Hartigan) and as edited from 'In Diebus Illis' series in A.C.R. by Frs. Linane and Mecham.

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Catholic Parish of St Augustine, Yass, Priests who have served in the Parish of Yass, July 2018,https://staug-yass.org.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/priests_list.pdf, accessed on 24 December 2025: "Rev. Father Michael Brennan, 1838."