Date of Birth: 01/01/1912
Date of Death: 14/04/1974
Date of Ordination: 14/06/1936

Fr Brendan O’Sullivan

Biography:

Origin and ordination

Brendan O'Sullivan was born in 1912 in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 14, 1936, in the Cathedral at Kilkenny. He arrived in the Archdiocese on March 28, 1936. His appointments were to be: St Peter's, Kingswood; St Francis Xavier's Cathedral; Glenelg and Semaphore.

The Glenelg appointment

Fr Jim Sayers and Fr Peter Ward were with Brendan for the first years of their priestly ministry (1956 -1961). Glenelg was a mensal parish in those days and Brendan was the Administrator. They found him typical of the Irish priests – good, sincere, devout – many of them coming from the country areas of Ireland.

Frs Jim and Peter managed to survive Brendan's black and white, no-nonsense approach to Parish life, and they no doubt managed to mellow him somewhat.

Walking the planks

One of the first experiences for a Curate in Glenelg was to be introduced to the effective but archaic lighting systems in the Church.  The young priest had the hazardous task of entering the ceiling and walking on a narrow plank to where a faulty light had been discovered and fixing said light.

Fr Jim’s first reaction was to call out to Peter, "It would be damn easy to fall off one of these ruddy planks." A voice came up from the overseer, Brendan, "Don't do that. You would destroy my ceiling.”  (Never mind about the Curate. Just don't mess-up the precious ceiling.) Later Brendon would protest that his reply did not accurately reflect what he meant. But they never let him forget it.

Insight into character

Brendan did not mix readily with his parishioners on a social basis.  But if the conversation was to be about Parish business or a personal problem he responded well and easily. His perception of character was generally accurate and at times uncanny.

On one memorable occasion the children at the Parish school were to make their first Communion, and parents were asked to produce Baptismal Certificates. One mother complained to Sister that her child had been baptised in Victoria and that the parish priest had ignored her request to send a certificate. Sister sent the lady to explain this to Monsignor. Her manner was rather blasé about the matter and she thought her word should be enough. Brendan listened politely.  Silence followed. And then he said, "Ma'am," (Brendan's address to all ladies), "you have never had that child baptised. So stop all this nonsense and tell me the truth.”

Perhaps it was the blunt attack but it was too much for the woman.  She burst into tears. He was right. She had delayed the baptism and as time went on she had been too ashamed to approach a priest to do it.

A man in whom there is no guile

Brendan at times could be delightfully but naively straightforward. On one occasion when Archbishop Beovich had been ill, he had asked Brendan to say the Missa Pro Populo for him. Some would remember that the usual stipend for a Mass then was five shillings. But at times people would give 10 shillings and many people in Glenelg would give one pound. 

Later the Archbishop visited Glenelg and during their conversation he asked Brendan to continue for a while to say the Missa Pro Populo for him. The Archbishop added, "Of course, Monsignor, that stipend is 10 shillings and you would find that quite handy.”

"Not really, your Grace", said our Brendan. "The stipends I get here in Glenelg are generally one pound.”

"Oh well,” said the Archbishop, "you had better make the Missa Pro Populo a pound stipend." (Bravo, Brendan! You tell it like it is! A true Kerryman! Another man in whom “there is no guile!")

A man of compassion

There is one story about Brendan O'Sullivan that reveals his somewhat endearing nature.

A priest of the Archdiocese, Fr Andy Davoran, had suffered a mental breakdown. Not a great deal was known about mental illness in those days and Fr Davoran was confined to Parkside Mental Asylum. He was there for 17 years. I think most of the Archdiocese had forgotten him.  But Brendan O'Sullivan and Harry Skehan had not forgotten their Irish companion. They heard of a new hospital for mental patients being opened up by the St John of God Brothers in Richmond, New South Wales. They applied and the Brothers agreed to take Fr Davoran. Together with an orderly from the Parkside Asylum they drove him to Richmond.

There is a lot to this story but suffice it to say that after years of trials endured at Parkside, and not being able to say Mass, within two years, Fr Davoran was going out and saying Mass in a nearby convent at Richmond. He had only one last wish – to get home to Ireland. Unfortunately that never eventuated.

Last brief appointment

After 21 years in Glenelg, Brendan was appointed as Parish Priest of Semaphore in 1966. That was not to last, for due to serious illness he resigned that appointment in 1970. He died at Lourdes Valley on April 14, 1974.

Brendan O'Sullivan – a great priestly soul, and a great mentor to priests who served with him.  May he rest in peace.



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