Latest news with #Capuchins
Sunday World
9 hours ago
- General
- Sunday World
Founder of Capuchin Day Centre, Brother Kevin Crowley, dies aged 90
Breaking | President Michael D Higgins has lead tributes saying he made 'an invaluable contribution to the people of Dublin city' though the 'essential services' provided by the Capuchin Day Centre. Day Centre founder Brother Kevin Crowley Known across Ireland for his work helping the poor and homeless, Brother Kevin founded the Capuchin Day Centre, based on Bow Street in Dublin, in 1969. The organisation provides more than 1,000 hot meals every day and more than 1,000 food parcels every week for homeless and poor people. Tributes to Br Kevin have been led by President Michael D Higgins, who said he made 'an invaluable contribution to the people of Dublin city' though the 'essential services' provided by the Capuchin Day Centre. 'The hot meals, food parcels, clothing, showers, family services, and medical and dental services have not just extended care of the most vulnerable, but has been exemplary in showing a fundamental respect for the dignity of each person and allowed so many of those who have availed of the services to rebuild their lives,' he said. 'It was extremely appropriate that Pope Francis visited Brother Kevin and the Capuchin Day Centre during his visit to Ireland in 2018 and met with those present and volunteers.' Day Centre founder Brother Kevin Crowley Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 2nd President Higgins said he was 'deeply honoured' to meet with Br Kevin 'on many occasions' throughout the years and to share in his company. He described him as a 'warm, caring, yet fearless man, who dedicated his life to living his Christian faith in dedication to those most in need'. 'Brother Kevin leaves a wonderful legacy to all those whose lives to which he made such a difference. Sabina and I will miss his messages, which continued after his move to Cork. 'May I express my deepest condolences to Brother Kevin's family, to all of his fellow Capuchins, and to all of his many friends and colleagues across the country. Síocháin síoraí do a anam lách uasal.' The Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell extended his sympathies to Br Kevin's family and his fellow Capuchins. "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 said. "He was always able to see Christ in the people he met. His was a love that reached out with no questions asked of those who sought assistance. Brother Kevin was an authentic follower of St Francis of Assisi. Read more 'As we mourn Brother Kevin's death, 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 county today. "Today we ask the Lord to grant us compassion for those who are experiencing Calvary and sorrow for our own self-indulgence. We cannot put words on that love of God, and yet when we have witnessed it in a good man's life and death, we too are able to recognise it, and to say a deeper and more grateful 'yes' to God. 'May Brother Kevin Crowley rest in the eternal embrace of God.' Born to parents William and Catherina in Kilcolean in Enniskeane, Co Cork in February of 1935, Br Kevin was baptised William. He attended school at the local national school and Bandon Vocational School. He then entered the Capuchin Postulancy in Co Kilkenny on April 7, 1958, Easter Monday of that year. In October of that year, he was admitted to the Novitate in Rochestown in Cork where he received the name Kevin. After spending time working in the Cooperative Clothing Guild in Dublin, he had offices on Bow Street reconstructed to build the Capuchin Day Centre. It has since gone on to become a vital facility for supporting poor and homeless people in Dublin. In recent years, it has offered support for international protection applicants. The centre was visited by Pope Francis during his time in Ireland in 2018, where he met service users. Addressing Capuchins in the Vatican later that year, the late pontiff said: 'Recently in Ireland, I saw your work with the most discarded and I was moved. It is a beautiful thing that … the elderly founder told me, 'Here we do not ask where you come from, who you are: you are a child of God'. "This is one of your traits. To really understand the persons, by 'smell', unconditionally. Come in, then we will see. As Capuchins, closeness is your charism. Preserve it.' Brother Kevin retired in 2022, aged 87.
The Journal
9 hours ago
- General
- The Journal
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. Advertisement 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. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- General
- Irish Independent
President Michael D Higgins leads tributes as founder of Capuchin Day Centre, Brother Kevin Crowley, dies aged 90
Known across Ireland for his work helping the poor and homeless, Brother Kevin founded the Capuchin Day Centre, based on Bow Street in Dublin, in 1969. The organisation provides more than 1,000 hot meals every day and more than 1,000 food parcels every week for homeless and poor people. Tributes to Br Kevin have been led by President Michael D Higgins, who said he made 'an invaluable contribution to the people of Dublin city' though the 'essential services' provided by the Capuchin Day Centre. 'The hot meals, food parcels, clothing, showers, family services, and medical and dental services have not just extended care of the most vulnerable, but has been exemplary in showing a fundamental respect for the dignity of each person and allowed so many of those who have availed of the services to rebuild their lives,' he said. 'It was extremely appropriate that Pope Francis visited Brother Kevin and the Capuchin Day Centre during his visit to Ireland in 2018 and met with those present and volunteers.' President Higgins said he was 'deeply honoured' to meet with Br Kevin 'on many occasions' throughout the years and to share in his company. He described him as a 'warm, caring, yet fearless man, who dedicated his life to living his Christian faith in dedication to those most in need'. 'Brother Kevin leaves a wonderful legacy to all those whose lives to which he made such a difference. Sabina and I will miss his messages, which continued after his move to Cork. 'May I express my deepest condolences to Brother Kevin's family, to all of his fellow Capuchins, and to all of his many friends and colleagues across the country. Síocháin síoraí do a anam lách uasal.' The Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell extended his sympathies to Br Kevin's family and his fellow Capuchins. ADVERTISEMENT "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 said. "He was always able to see Christ in the people he met. His was a love that reached out with no questions asked of those who sought assistance. Brother Kevin was an authentic follower of St Francis of Assisi. 'As we mourn Brother Kevin's death, 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 county today. "Today we ask the Lord to grant us compassion for those who are experiencing Calvary and sorrow for our own self-indulgence. We cannot put words on that love of God, and yet when we have witnessed it in a good man's life and death, we too are able to recognise it, and to say a deeper and more grateful 'yes' to God. 'May Brother Kevin Crowley rest in the eternal embrace of God.' Born to parents William and Catherina in Kilcolean in Enniskeane, Co Cork in February of 1935, Br Kevin was baptised William. He attended school at the local national school and Bandon Vocational School. He then entered the Capuchin Postulancy in Co Kilkenny on April 7, 1958, Easter Monday of that year. In October of that year, he was admitted to the Novitate in Rochestown in Cork where he received the name Kevin. After spending time working in the Cooperative Clothing Guild in Dublin, he had offices on Bow Street reconstructed to build the Capuchin Day Centre. It has since gone on to become a vital facility for supporting poor and homeless people in Dublin. In recent years, it has offered support for international protection applicants. The centre was visited by Pope Francis during his time in Ireland in 2018, where he met service users. Addressing Capuchins in the Vatican later that year, the late pontiff said: 'Recently in Ireland, I saw your work with the most discarded and I was moved. It is a beautiful thing that … the elderly founder told me, 'Here we do not ask where you come from, who you are: you are a child of God'. "This is one of your traits. To really understand the persons, by 'smell', unconditionally. Come in, then we will see. As Capuchins, closeness is your charism. Preserve it.' Brother Kevin retired in 2022, aged 87.
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- General
- Irish Times
Br Kevin Crowley of Capuchin Day Centre dies aged 90
Brother Kevin Crowley (90), who ministered at the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin for many decades, has died. Over recent years he had been at Mount Desert Nursing Home in Cork. He had been known throughout the country and beyond as a Brother to the poor, particularly through his work in the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People which he founded on Bow Street, Dublin in 1969. Expressing his sincere sympathy to Br Kevin's family and his Capuchin confrères, Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell recalled how Br Kevin had '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.' His was 'a love that reached out with no questions asked of those who sought assistance. Br Kevin was an authentic follower of St Francis of Assisi,' the Archbishop said. READ MORE Born at Kilcoleman, Enniskeane, Co Cork on February 24th, 1935, Br Kevin was baptised William but following entry to the Capuchin Postulancy in Kilkenny in 1958 and, later, the Novitiate in Rochestown, Co Cork, he received the name Kevin. [ 'He's just a saint, just a pure out and out saint': Founder of Capuchin Day Centre retires ] In 1968, he was asked to take charge of the Clothing Guild in Dublin's Church Street. He quickly realised that much more was required than a clothing distribution unit, so he set up the St Felix soup kitchen and day centre, which initially catered for up to 50 persons daily. From then the numbers just grew and grew. As he recalled in his final interview before leaving Dublin for his native Cork in August 2022, 'I saw the people coming to our church. I saw the people walking the streets. I saw the people looking into dustbins and taking food out of the dustbins'. As a follower of St Francis 'I decided something should be done for them.' It was the beginnings of the Capuchin Day Centre. 'We had no money. Things were very bad. I owed a bill for £1,000, and £1,000 then was a lot of money and I didn't have it. I went down to the oratory, and I do believe in God in a very, very big way, and I said to the Lord 'these are your people and if you want me to feed them you'd better go get the money'. And we never went short of food or money since then.' He recalled how at that time 'I thought the drink was a huge problem, which it was, but then the drug scene came in. The drug scene has taken over completely and is appalling. Only for our medical team we would have had many deaths here on the premises.' He said the centre has gone from about 50 people when it started to now having 200 people for breakfast, 600/700 for lunch from Monday to Saturday. Unsurprisingly a stand-out moment for him over the years was the visit of Pope Francis to the Centre in August 2018. 'The greatest for me was the day they saw the Pope coming up Bow St in the Popemobile and the first thing he did was to come up to the homeless people to greet each and every one of them. And I made it quite clear there were to be no dignitaries whatsoever here.' Present too on that day were two other great allies of the homeless, Alice Leahy and Sr Stanislaus Kennedy. What was most significant for Br Kevin about such visits was that 'the homeless people were being recognised. That was the most important thing for me'. In Rome later that year, addressing Capuchins from around the world, Pope Francis, departed from his prepared speech to say how 'recently in Ireland, I saw your work with the most discarded and I was moved. It is a beautiful thing that … the elderly founder told me, `Here we do not ask where you come from, who you are: you are a child of God'. This is one of your traits. To really understand the persons, by 'smell', unconditionally.' Another regular visit to the centre over the years was President Michael D Higgins. On a visit there in 2016 he said what Br Kevin made possible at the Day Centre was 'the stuff of a real republic'. The remains of Br Kevin will arrive at St Mary of the Angel's, Church St Dublin at 5pm on Thursday evening and will lie in repose there on Friday until 6pm. Following requiem Mass on Saturday at 11am, burial will follow in Dardistown cemetery.
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Founder of Capuchin Day Centre, Brother Kevin Crowley, dies aged 90
Known across Ireland for his work helping the poor and homeless, Brother Kevin founded the Capuchin Day Centre, based on Bow Street in Dublin, in 1969. The organisation provides more than 1,000 hot meals every day and more than 1,000 food parcels every week for homeless and poor people. The Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell extended his sympathies to Brother Kevin's family and his fellow Capuchins. "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 said. "He was always able to see Christ in the people he met. His was a love that reached out with no questions asked of those who sought assistance. Brother Kevin was an authentic follower of St Francis of Assisi. 'As we mourn Brother Kevin's death, 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 county today. "Today we ask the Lord to grant us compassion for those who are experiencing Calvary and sorrow for our own self-indulgence. We cannot put words on that love of God, and yet when we have witnessed it in a good man's life and death, we too are able to recognise it, and to say a deeper and more grateful 'yes' to God. 'May Brother Kevin Crowley rest in the eternal embrace of God.' Born to parents William and Catherina in Kilcolean in Enniskeane, Co Cork in February of 1935, Br Kevin was baptised William. He attended school at the local national school and Bandon Vocational School. He then entered the Capuchin Postulancy in Co Kilkenny on April 7, 1958, Easter Monday of that year. In October of that year, he was admitted to the Novitate in Rochestown in Cork where he received the name Kevin. After spending time working in the Cooperative Clothing Guild in Dublin, he had offices on Bow Street reconstructed to build the Capuchin Day Centre. It has since gone on to become a vital facility for supporting poor and homeless people in Dublin. In recent years, it has offered support for international protection applicants. The centre was visited by Pope Francis during his time in Ireland in 2018, where he met service users. Addressing Capuchins in the Vatican later that year, the late pontiff said: 'Recently in Ireland, I saw your work with the most discarded and I was moved. It is a beautiful thing that … the elderly founder told me, 'Here we do not ask where you come from, who you are: you are a child of God'. "This is one of your traits. To really understand the persons, by 'smell', unconditionally. Come in, then we will see. As Capuchins, closeness is your charism. Preserve it.' Brother Kevin retired in 2022, aged 87.
