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Vale: Father Bob Maguire

Larrikin priest, social justice campaigner and media personality Father Bob Maguire has died.

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Larrikin priest, social justice campaigner and media personality Father Bob Maguire has died, aged 88.

The Age reports a source close to his family confirmed the news today.

From 1973 to 2012, Maguire was parish priest of Sts Peter and Pauls Church in South Melbourne. Commonly known as Father Bob, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 for service to homeless youth through the Open Family Foundation.

Amongst his many television appearances was John Safran vs God with satirist John Safran on SBS. From November 2005 to January 2006, he then joined Safran as co-host of Speaking in Tongues. He also judged Strictly Speaking on ABC plus apeparances on Anh’s Brush with Fame, At Home Alone Together, Live on Bowen, Gordon Street Tonight, One Plus One, The Project and radio hosting on 3AW and Triple J.

When Father Bob turned 75, he was required by church law to offer his resignation, however he felt it was not time.

As he walked down the path inside the church before his service, he was heavily applauded and received a standing ovation. On the other hand, Archbishop Hart released a press statement reading Father Bob needed to go due to financial mismanagement which included selling church property to benefit his ministry to the poor.

Father Bob remained adamant that he did not sell property without approval and insists all transactions were approved with Archbishop signature. His sparkling personality and defiance earned him a legion of followers across a range of faiths and non-believers.

Maguire’s life and forced retirement was also the subject of the 2013 documentary In Bob We Trust, directed by Lynn-Maree Milburn.

16 Responses

  2. This was so sad Father Bob is the only priest to give Catholic Priests a good name. He was so awesome you almost want to convert to Catholicism. He personified how real Christian clergy should act RIP angel Father Bob

  3. Whilst I’m a loud critic of the Church, Father Bob was absolutely one of the good ‘uns. He was a man of kindness, integrity and great humour. If only there were more like him.

  5. Feel honoured that I met Father Bob…loved how he kept the Catholic Church to account… can’t help he died of a broken heart after his treatment within the foundation in this last week…. Vale Father Bob

  6. He did lots of good in the world. His presence will be missed. 😭 My favourite TV memories are Anh’s Brush With Fame, The Project each Easter and the many shows Father Bob did with John Safran. Listening to them on Triple J each Sunday evening was a great end to the weekend.

    1. How ironic can one institution be, they wanted him to retire at a specific age but that very institution still have members older than him including previous heads (unless they chose to retire which has only happened once since 1415) who are able to continue working regardless of their age making decisions for the greater good. (that’s debatable too). This man continued his greater good regardless of his age and his legacy far out ways Pell’s and others like him. Father Bob was a joy and one of a kind in his own right.

  10. Father Bob was a humanitarian who always put the interests of powerless people ahead of the institution he represented. I hope Premier Daniel Andrews agrees to hold a state funeral for him. 🙁

    1. It can happen like that squareyes. I spoke to my great aunt just last Friday and she was in great form. She died yesterday morning. I guess sometimes you just know….

  13. What sad news, he was a rare one instead. He was a real cheeky character and a natural comedian. So much respect for a man who said it how it is..…RIP Father Bob…..what a great legacy you have left. 💔

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