Much-loved Catholic priest and charity campaigner Father Bob Maguire has died aged 88, just days after he issued a reassurance that ‘everything was alright’.
The self-described larrikin known universally as Father Bob died on Wednesday, his foundation has confirmed.
Father Bob dedicated his life to the Catholic church and charitable work before gaining a reputation as a candid commentator who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind or call out church leaders.
Just two days ago, the priest angrily hit back at the Father Bob Maguire Foundation board after it announced he had voluntarily stepped down as chairman of his beloved charity.
Father Bob denied he stepped down and claimed he was emailed about his termination last week, describing the situation as a bloody mess.
‘It’s nasty … I’ve known these blokes for years but they have turned treacherous,’ he told the Herald Sun on Monday in what would be his final interview.
‘I’m not used to this, we always ran the show as a fighting unit, I’m the commander in chief.’
‘We’re hurt but we aren’t out.’
A frail looking Father Bob shared a Facebook video message just last week to reassure everyone that ‘everything was alright.’
Father Bob first became known for his work with disadvantaged people in his South Melbourne parish, before regularly appearing in national media.
Father Bob Maguire was parish priest of Sts Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in South Melbourne for almost 40 years from 1973
He first worked with broadcaster John Safran in 2004 on SBS’s John Safran vs God, with the duo going on to host radio programs on ABC’s Triple J for a decade.
The pair were often referred to as an odd couple and covered many topics including religion, culture and politics with a side of irony and humour.
Father Bob balanced his media commitments and parish duties until he was forced to retire from the Catholic Church.
He was first asked to resign at the age of 75 in line with canon law but managed to stay on for another two years, even after a public spat with then Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart over finances.
In 2011, he accused Cardinal George Pell of punishing him for being ‘open to all’ and described his exit as a ‘dishonourable discharge’.
‘George Pell has declared those of us Vatican II-ists to be Cafeteria Catholics whereas he and his lot are authentic Catholics,’ Father Maguire said at the time.
He performed his last service to a packed crowd of more than 1000 people in 2012.
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His final years as parish priest were depicted in the documentary film In Bob We Trust, which includes snippets of his run-ins with church figures.
‘I’m going to explain to a senior cleric why we’re spending money on the poor,’ he told filmmakers.
‘Now to me that’s offensive, not only intellectually but religiously and spiritually.’
He was ordained in Melbourne at the age of 25 and was a chaplain for conscripted Australian soldiers heading to Vietnam for several years.
Fr Maguire was then appointed to the parish of Saints Peter and Paul’s in South Melbourne in 1973, where he stayed for the next 39 years.
He encouraged people from all walks of life to take part in the community that he helped nurture, and fiercely advocated on behalf of them.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 for services to youth homelessness and went on to collect other accolades including Victorian of the Year in 2011 and Victorian Senior of the Year in 2022.
Fr Maguire co-founded national homeless youth organisation Open Family Australia in 1978 and later conducted his charity work through the Father Bob Maguire Foundation.
It offers vulnerable people in Melbourne’s inner southeast free meals, education programs, advocacy services and other outreach programs.
On April 14, 2023 the foundation advised that Fr Maguire had stepped down as chairman and board member.
He was never afraid to wade into political discussions and in December 2022 told AAP far greater action was needed to be taken on the ‘national disaster’ of homelessness.
‘A national characteristic is that we’re kind to one another because we’re a land of migrants, refugees,’ he said.
In the same interview he urged Australians to ‘brighten up’ and focus on what gave them joy.
‘You are a child of the universe, you’ve got a right to be here and all the talents needed not only to survive but to flourish,’ he said.
‘I’m a Collingwood supporter and the motto is ‘Floreat Pica’, ‘let the magpie flourish’, and I think that’s what we have to do not to survive but for God’s sake to flourish!
‘Sing and dance in the street … otherwise the dark side says ‘good, I’ve got ’em’.’
More to come
Father Bob
