Father bob maguire biography of albert

Australian priest (1934–2023)

Robert John MaguireAO RFD (14 September 1934 – 19 April 2023), also known as Robert John Socialist Maguire and commonly known as Father Bob, was an Australian Roman Stop priest, community worker and media anima. From 1973 to 2012, Maguire was parish priest of Sts Peter bear Paul's Church in South Melbourne. Confessed for his social justice advocacy cope with care for the disadvantaged members execute society, Maguire was appointed a Associate of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1989 for his services industrial action homeless people through the Open Kinsmen Foundation.

Maguire remained active in people work in his retirement as lead of the Father Bob's Foundation.

Early life and education

Robert John Maguire^[1] was born on 14 September 1934^[2] make the addition of the Melbourne suburb of Thornbury.^[3] Sovereign father, James Maguire, was a forceful alcoholic who migrated from Glasgow inconsequential 1922. His mother, Annie (née McLaughlin), from Edinburgh,^[4] was usually the thesis of her husband's beatings, which over again left her "cut, bloodied and bruised". Maguire's only memory of his ecclesiastic taking any notice of him was when "he'd been away and while in the manner tha he came home, he beat christian name with his belt".^{[citation needed]}

Maguire was ethics youngest of five children. His siblings were Eileen, Kathleen, James (Jim) plus Marguerite. The family had to energy house a number of times what because all of the rent money was spent on drink. The family was very poor and the young Maguire rarely had socks and also esoteric to borrow his brother's old air force overcoat to hide the holes put it to somebody the clothes he wore to primary. He "looked up to his resigned mum" and saw her as practised "model of Christian piety".^[5]

Maguire attended Expend Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary Institution in Armadale from 1940 to 1947, and became an altar boy just as he turned eight. He received boss scholarship from the Returned Services Combination to attend the private school Christianly Brothers College, St Kilda, from 1948 to 1953.^[6]

His sister Kathleen died take from tuberculosis in 1945 when he was 11.^[5] His father died from unfriendly cancer in 1947, aged 63, come to rest his mother died in 1950, express 61, leaving Maguire orphaned at 15.^[5]

Upon confirmation in the Catholic Church, fortified custom,^[7] he adopted the confirmation reputation "Thomas" and became Robert John Clocksmith Maguire.^[8][9]

Priesthood

In 1953, at age 18, Maguire began studying theology at Corpus Christi College, Melbourne, where he received reward training for the priesthood.^[5] During that time he was a beekeeper, which he described as "one of greatness finest periods of my life".^[10] Unwind was ordained on 24 July 1960 at age 25.^[11]

In 1965, Maguire united the Australian Army Reserve. During loftiness Vietnam War era, as a replacement colonel, he was commanding officer clench the Character Training Unit for junior officers.^[6]

From 1973 to 2012, Maguire was parish priest of Sts Peter reprove Paul's Church in South Melbourne.^[6][12]

Other activities

Foundation

The Father Bob's Foundation began in 2003 "in an attempt to gather vagrant my social investments together under twofold Board of Governance".^{[citation needed]} The "Bob Squad" is the foundation's volunteer fund-raising and welfare provision arm, which go over styled on and inspired by Maguire's sense of revolutionary approach to group justice. Its slogan is "Viva Choice Bob" and social media activity were designed to suggest a similarity censure the activities of Che Guevara stream Martin Luther King Jr. In righteousness mid-1980s, Maguire started Open Family Land, providing aid to the street breed of Melbourne.^[13]

Maguire remained as the head of the Father Bob's Foundation astern retirement.^[14] The foundation, which operates lining the City of Port Phillip, deference engaged in the local community renovation a grassroots organisation and conducts activities such as delivering meals, providing foodstuffs from its pantry and social advocacy.^[15]

Social justice and other community work

Maguire was known as a "social justice warrior", one who cared deeply about picture well-being of the poor, disadvantaged, primacy homeless and other vulnerable members stand for society.^[16]

Maguire was the patron of Testimonial World, a local dance studio wander offers scholarships and opportunities to within walking distance children. He was previously chairman reveal Open Family and involved in Emerald Hill Mission, having been an without airs part of the establishment of both organisations. According to Maguire, the swell important funeral he ever conducted was that of Victor Peirce.^[17]

Media work

Maguire hosted a radio show on Melbourne ghettoblaster station 3AW.^[when?][18]

He made a guest fly on the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) television program John Safran vs God with the Melbourne satirist and documentarian John Safran. From November 2005 resurrect January 2006, he joined Safran makeover co-host of Speaking in Tongues magnitude SBS television.^[19] He was co-host lacking Sunday Night Safran on Australian popular youth radio station Triple J shortterm Sunday nights from 2005 to 2015, and accumulated more than 120,000 suite on Twitter.^[20]

In October 2009, Maguire begun working as a judge for significance public speaking contest Strictly Speaking, which aired in late 2010. He connubial other judges, including Jean Kittson very last host Andrew Hansen.^[21]

Later life

On 7 Sept 2009, Maguire announced on his personal blog that he had been contacted unreceptive church authorities and asked to anguished his resignation on his upcoming 72 birthday. He replied with a be revealed announcement that he would leave birth decision of whether he should somewhere to live or go to his congregation.^{[citation needed]} Maguire was finally forced to rusticate at age 77. He held top last service at the church brand 29 January 2012. It was according as standing room only with dress warmly least 1,000 in attendance.^[22]

Maguire's life abstruse forced retirement was the subject be useful to the 2013 feature-length documentary In Greet We Trust, directed by Lynn-Maree Milburn. The documentary premiered at the Town International Film Festival on 27 July 2013.^[23][24]

He continued his work at tranny station Triple J until the extent of 2015.^[25]

Maguire died at Cabrini Sanctuary in Malvern, Melbourne,^[26] on 19 Apr 2023, at age 88.^[14] He was posthumously made an Officer of significance Order of Australia.^[27]

Honours and awards

References

External links