Francis O'Brien | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Francis O'Brien SJ Title: Rev First Name: Francis Middle Names: D. Preferred Name: Surname: O'Brien Order: SJ Date of Birth: 05-Nov-1912 Place of Birth: Colac VIC Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 06-Sep-1984 Place of Death: Melbourne VIC Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 10-Sep-1984 Place of Burial: Boroondara, Kew VIC Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199466092 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: O'Brien, Francis D Teacher, administrator, retreat director; born Colac, Victoria, 5 November 1912; died Melbourne, 6 September 1984, aged 71. Frank O'Brien was educated by the Sisters of Mercy in Colac, Victoria, and entered the Jesuits, 12 February 1930. He did a 'home juniorate' followed by an arts degree from the University of Melbourne, and then studied philosophy at Loyola, Watsonia. There he gained the reputation for being a born teacher. He was supposed to remember everything that was said in lectures, and helped many confused scholastics. His regency was at St Aloysius' College, 1938-40, and theology studies at Canisius College, Pymble, 1941-44. It was shortly before ordination that signs of disseminated sclerosis were discovered. He was the friend of everyone. He was liked for his common sense, his constant good humour, his readiness to give up his time for others, his ability to make life seem abundantly worthwhile. He was a gifted man. He became a pastoral priest, in the sense that he encountered various groups, a parish group at Yarra Glen, the novices and young professed Sisters of Mercy, and the Assumption Sodality. He was appointed rector of Loyola College, Watsonia, 1953-57, and Campion College, Kew, 1958-61. From 1978-1984, he lived at Bethlehem Hospital, Caulfield, where he visited the sick in his wheelchair when able. His illness lasted 38 years. O'Brien never slackened in his work despite his physical disabilities. He went on weekend supplies and gave retreats. He was always a great talker, 'Yacketty Yack', as he called it. He was very cheerful and full of humour. His retreats were full of stories. For many years he worked from a wheelchair. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Francis

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

O'Brien

Order:

Date of Birth:

05-Nov-1912

Place of Birth:

Colac VIC

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

06-Sep-1984

Place of Death:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

10-Sep-1984

Place of Burial:

Boroondara, Kew VIC

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199466092

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
O'Brien, Francis D

Teacher, administrator, retreat director; born Colac, Victoria, 5 November 1912; died Melbourne, 6 September 1984, aged 71.

Frank O'Brien was educated by the Sisters of Mercy in Colac, Victoria, and entered the Jesuits, 12 February 1930. He did a 'home juniorate' followed by an arts degree from the University of Melbourne, and then studied philosophy at Loyola, Watsonia. There he gained the reputation for being a born teacher. He was supposed to remember everything that was said in lectures, and helped many confused scholastics.

His regency was at St Aloysius' College, 1938-40, and theology studies at Canisius College, Pymble, 1941-44. It was shortly before ordination that signs of disseminated sclerosis were discovered. He was the friend of everyone. He was liked for his common sense, his constant good humour, his readiness to give up his time for others, his ability to make life seem abundantly worthwhile. He was a gifted man.

He became a pastoral priest, in the sense that he encountered various groups, a parish group at Yarra Glen, the novices and young professed Sisters of Mercy, and the Assumption Sodality.

He was appointed rector of Loyola College, Watsonia, 1953-57, and Campion College, Kew, 1958-61. From 1978-1984, he lived at Bethlehem Hospital, Caulfield, where he visited the sick in his wheelchair when able. His illness lasted 38 years.

O'Brien never slackened in his work despite his physical disabilities. He went on weekend supplies and gave retreats. He was always a great talker, 'Yacketty Yack', as he called it. He was very cheerful and full of humour. His retreats were full of stories. For many years he worked from a wheelchair.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Francis O'Brien SJ

Biographical Notes