02-07-2025
Brother Kevin Crowley, founder of Dublin's Capuchin Day Centre, has died
THE FOUNDER OF the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People in Dublin City Brother Kevin Crowley has passed away, it's been confirmed.
The esteemed humanitarian founded the organisation in 1969. It provides over 1,000 hot meals each day and more than 1,450 food parcels each week to those in need and those who are homeless.
Brother Kevin was a Capuchin Friar who devoted his life to supporting people living in poverty and in food need.
The Capuchin Franciscans today confirmed that Brother Kevin died early this morning in the 'wonderful care' of the Mount Desert Nursing Home in Cork.
'Through his ministry and life as a Capuchin Friar, Brother Kevin opened his heart and his hands to serve those most in need,' they said.
Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell offered his 'sincere sympathy' to Brother Kevin's family and his Capuchin Confréres on his death.
'Brother Kevin devoted his life to the service of the poor. His work with the Capuchin Day Centre staff and volunteers transformed the lives of the poor and marginalised in our city who availed of its services, from misery and despair to hope and love,' he further said.
The Archbishop said that as we mourn Brother Kevin, he would want us to 'remember the poor we still have with us in ever greater numbers because of homelessness, wars, famine and the multiplicity of addictions that affect our country today.'
President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins joined with all those who have 'expressed such sadness' on learning of Brother Kevin's death.
'I was deeply honoured to meet with Brother Kevin on many occasions throughout the years and to share in his company. Brother Kevin was a warm, caring, yet fearless man, who dedicated his life to living his Christian faith in dedication to those most in need,' Higgins said.
'Sabina and I will miss his messages, which continued after his move to Cork,' he added.
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Tánaiste Simon Harris said that Brother Kevin was 'one of life's true heros' who devoted his life to helping others.
'A proud Cork man, he made an enormous contribution to assisting vulnerable Dublin people with the foundation of the Capuchin Day Centre,' he added.
Harris said that the work of the day centre went beyond the provision of food, as it provided a range of medical services and family supports.
Brother Kevin was originally from Enniskeane in Co. Cork. In his early days as a friar he worked in the Co-operative Clothing Guild for unemployed persons and families in Dublin.
In 1969 he had the small Guild offices on Bow Street reconstructed to create the day centre, with its chief purpose being to 'relieve the hardship endured by homeless people'.
The centre went on to become a core part of homelessness supports in Dublin. In recent years, it has also extended its support to international protection applicants who were living homeless in the city.
In 2018 the late Pope Francis visited the centre and met service users, and said that the Capuchins are 'especially attuned with the people of God, and indeed with the poor'.
Father Kevin Crowley meeting Pope Francis.
Brother Kevin retired in 2022 at the age of 87.
On his retirement President Michael D. Higgins said that Brother Kevin had led an 'invaluable service that is providing essential food and compassion to those most in need in our capital city'.
He praised Brother Kevin and his team for their 'great spirit of shared humanity and determined pursuit of dignity, their practical work in the delivery of human rights for all our fellow citizens.'
At the tome. Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell said Brother Kevin had 'devoted his life to the service of the poor'.
Brother Kevin will be laid to rest on Saturday 5 July, with a funeral mass to be held at 11am at St Mary of the Angel's, Church Street, with burial afterwards in Dardistown.
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