Father Bob Maguire, charity campaigner and Catholic priest, dies aged 88
Father Bob Maguire, the beloved social justice campaigner and Catholic priest, has died aged 88.
Known as the “people’s priest”, Father Bob dedicated his life to charity and helping poor and marginalised members of society in Melbourne.
A statement from the Maguire family confirmed he died at Cabrini Hospital in Malvern this morning.
The family said his physical and mental health had been “deteriorating for some time” but his preference was always to help others and not himself.
“Father Bob was not just a much-loved family member but was loved by all Australians for what he stood for,” the Maguire family said.
“He has fought bravely for the underprivileged and homeless all his life.
“He represented the highest of principles, and he fought to actively live those principles.”
The family said he was always working for disadvantaged families and people who he had “great love and compassion for”.
“He wanted nobody to be left behind and always saw and believed in the good in people, but he knew that there were many whom he referred to as the unloved and unlovely.
“These were his real passion.”
The family said it had been a difficult few months and thanked medical staff for their assistance.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the country had “lost a great Australian” with Maguire’s death.
“An irrepressibly cheerful champion for all those battling disadvantage, he dedicated his life to brightening the lives of those most in need,” he said.
“A man of warmth and faith who faced struggles with a cheeky grin. May he rest in peace.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns said our nation had just lost a hero.
“The people’s priest. A social justice warrior,” he said.
“And a man who dedicated his life to faith and standing up for those most vulnerable. Vale Father Bob Maguire.”
Father Bob Maguire’s legacy
Maguire was ordained as a priest in 1960 at the age of 25, and clashed with the church on many issues over the years.
He was parish priest of Sts. Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church in South Melbourne from 1973 to 2012.
Maguire became a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 for his service to homeless youth. In 2011 he was Victorian of the Year.
He founded the Father Bob Maguire Foundation in 2003, which has a mission to “provide material, emotional and social support to whomever, whenever and wherever necessary”.
The foundation also aims to end homelessness and disadvantage through creating a caring community.
On the foundation’s website, Maguire said he thought he had his work cut out for him when he joined the South Melbourne Church in the 1970s but “the reverse was true”.
“They revealed their humility which was, thankfully, tempered by liberal doses of scepticism; but they loved one another and cared for each other in a way that still leaves me breathless,” Maguire said.
“That is what inspires my foundation and the pathway I’ve chosen until the end of my days.
“They will carry it forward after that, because the foundation is, at its heart, a contract between people that is inviolable.”
He said the foundation was a commitment to “social salvation and redemption of our most vulnerable fellow citizens”.
“Most important of all is that I’m working creatively with ‘the next generation’ of people who will take the work of the foundation forward.
“All are young, proud and passionate, and they understand what the foundation stands for and what it can continue to achieve.
“I believe absolutely that the Father Bob Maguire Foundation will continue to grow and be a loud and passionate advocate for the voiceless and forgotten.”
Just last week Maguire stepped down from his role as chairman and member of the Father Bob Maguire Foundation board.
“Fr Bob will continue to be our inspiration and we expect that he will have on-going input into our programs and services to ensure that nobody will need to be left behind,” the foundation’s statement from April 14 said.
“The foundation will be continuing the work commenced by Fr Bob and in a way consistent with his lifelong commitment to the underprivileged, especially the unloved and the unlovely.
“As part of the restructuring, the existing administrative staff of the Foundation have been made redundant effective immediately.”
The foundation also plans to move from its current premises.
“His focus on those most disadvantaged and alienated in our society will be continued by the foundation. He has been and will continue to be our inspiration,” the foundation said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic Father Bob created “Bob-Keeper” to support Melbournians when Job Keeper payments ended.
He also started the Father Bob pantry in South Melbourne, which provides groceries to people in the community facing challenges or financial hardship.
