An announcement from the Maguire household confirmed he died at Cabrini Hospital in Malvern this morning.
The household stated his bodily and psychological well being had been “deteriorating for some time” however his desire was all the time to assist others and never himself.
“Father Bob was not just a much-loved family member but was loved by all Australians for what he stood for,” the Maguire household stated.
“He has fought bravely for the underprivileged and homeless all his life.
“He represented the best of rules, and he fought to actively reside these rules.”
The family said he was always working for disadvantaged families and people who he had “nice love and compassion for”.
“He needed no one to be left behind and all the time noticed and believed within the good in folks, however he knew that there have been many whom he known as the unloved and unlovely.
“These were his real passion.”
The household stated it had been a troublesome few months and thanked medical workers for his or her help.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the nation had “lost a great Australian” with Maguire’s demise.
“An irrepressibly cheerful champion for all those battling disadvantage, he dedicated his life to brightening the lives of those most in need,” he stated.
“A man of warmth and faith who faced struggles with a cheeky grin. May he rest in peace.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns stated our nation had simply misplaced a hero.
“The people’s priest. A social justice warrior,” he stated.
“And a man who dedicated his life to faith and standing up for those most vulnerable. Vale Father Bob Maguire.”
Father Bob Maguire’s legacy
Maguire was ordained as a priest in 1960 on the age of 25, and clashed with the church on many points through the years.
He was parish priest of Sts. Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church in South Melbourne from 1973 to 2012.
Maguire grew to become a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 for his service to homeless youth. In 2011 he was Victorian of the Year.
He based the Father Bob Maguire Foundation in 2003, which has a mission to “provide material, emotional and social support to whomever, whenever and wherever necessary”.
The basis additionally goals to finish homelessness and drawback by making a caring group.
On the inspiration’s web site, Maguire stated he thought he had his work minimize out for him when he joined the South Melbourne Church within the Nineteen Seventies however “the reverse was true”.
“They revealed their humility which was, thankfully, tempered by liberal doses of scepticism; but they loved one another and cared for each other in a way that still leaves me breathless,” Maguire stated.
“That is what inspires my foundation and the pathway I’ve chosen until the end of my days.
“They will carry it ahead after that, as a result of the inspiration is, at its coronary heart, a contract between folks that’s inviolable.”
He said the foundation was a commitment to “social salvation and redemption of our most susceptible fellow residents”.
“Most necessary of all is that I’m working creatively with ‘the following era’ of people that will take the work of the inspiration ahead.
“All are young, proud and passionate, and they understand what the foundation stands for and what it can continue to achieve.
“I imagine completely that the Father Bob Maguire Foundation will proceed to develop and be a loud and passionate advocate for the unvoiced and forgotten.”
Just last week Maguire stepped down from his role as chairman and member of the Father Bob Maguire Foundation board.
“Fr Bob will proceed to be our inspiration and we anticipate that he could have on-going enter into our applications and providers to make sure that no one will must be left behind,” the foundation’s statement from April 14 said.
“The basis can be persevering with the work commenced by Fr Bob and in a approach constant together with his lifelong dedication to the underprivileged, particularly the unloved and the unlovely.
“As part of the restructuring, the existing administrative staff of the Foundation have been made redundant effective immediately.”
The basis additionally plans to maneuver from its present premises.
“His focus on those most disadvantaged and alienated in our society will be continued by the foundation. He has been and will continue to be our inspiration,” the inspiration stated.
During the COVID-19 pandemic Father Bob created “Bob-Keeper” to assist Melbournians when Job Keeper funds ended.
He additionally began the Father Bob pantry in South Melbourne, which supplies groceries to folks in the neighborhood going through challenges or monetary hardship.
Source: www.9news.com.au
