Father John O’Brien loved Mass, making wooden crosses

By Mary Ann Wyand

Father John P. O’Brien, who retired as pastor of St. Bridget of Ireland Parish in Liberty last November due to ill health, died on Feb. 6 at his residence in Connersville. He was 69.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein on Feb. 10 at St. Gabriel Church in Connersville. Burial followed at Dale Cemetery in Connersville.

Father Gerald Kirkhoff, archdiocesan vicar for Advocacy for Priests, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis and dean of the Indianapolis North Deanery, was the homilist.

Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, remembered Father O’Brien as “welcoming and friendly,” and “proud of the fact that he, too, had attended Saint Meinrad Seminary and was a classmate of our archbishop.”

Father J. Joseph McNally, a retired diocesan priest and longtime friend, remembered Father O’Brien as a dedicated priest who loved celebrating Mass, always helped his younger brother, Timothy, and enjoyed making wooden crosses.

“I’ve known John since 1953 when he went to the seminary out of the eighth grade,” Father McNally said. “His dad died when he was in about the sixth grade … and he lived at St. Vincent Orphanage in Vincennes, Ind., for two years. ... He knew when he was 12 years old that he wanted to be a priest, and he kept that dedication all these years.”

Father O’Brien was very intelligent, Father McNally said, and was an avid reader.

“One of his favorite things [to reflect on] was ‘What would Jesus do?’ ” Father McNally said. “He was an excellent confessor, very compassionate and empathetic. It would always be ‘What would Jesus do?’ I really do believe that he lived that. He was a good priest. … He prepared homilies very well.”

Father O’Brien was “way ahead of his time in some ways,” Father McNally said. “Twenty-five years ago, he was on the first committee to study the … diaconate … and he did a whole lot of research. He had documents from all over the United States.”

After undergoing eye surgery last February, Father O’Brien fell and sustained serious head injuries that required surgery about six months ago.

“Since last February, he hadn’t really been the same,” Father McNally said. “His speech was impaired. His vision was impaired. … He was granted early retirement for health reasons after being at Liberty for about 11 years.”

Father O’Brien never complained throughout his illness, Father McNally said, even though “he had some really rough … times.”

His father came from Ireland and he was proud of his Irish heritage, Father McNally said. He was such a devoted fan of University of Notre Dame sports that he collected about 20 “Fighting Irish” caps.

“Father O’Brien enjoyed making crosses,” Father McNally said. “That was his hobby. He loved woodworking. [After his death], I must have found 100 wooden crosses. He usually designed them himself.”

John Patrick O’Brien was born on Sept. 2, 1937, in Indianapolis to Timothy John and Margaret (Doherty) O’Brien. He grew up in St. Joseph Parish, formerly located on the near east side of the city, and attended Holy Cross School then completed his grade school education at St. Vincent Orphanage.

He attended the former Saint Meinrad High School, the former Saint Meinrad College—where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology—and Saint Meinrad School of Theology.

He was ordained to the priesthood by the late Archbishop Paul C. Schulte on May 3, 1964, at Saint Meinrad Archabbey Church.

Father O’Brien celebrated his first Mass at Holy Cross Church in Indianapolis on May 10, 1964. He began his first assignment as associate pastor pro-tem of the former Assumption Parish in Indianapolis on May 20, 1964.

He was named associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Greensburg on Aug. 25, 1964. On Nov. 11, 1965, he was appointed associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Clinton and also served as an instructor at the former Schulte High School in Terre Haute.

On May 16, 1966, Father O’Brien was named associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in New Albany. He served there until June 1, 1968, when he was appointed associate pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Terre Haute. He also served as director of the Catholic Youth Organization in the Terre Haute Deanery.

On July 5, 1973, Father O’Brien was named pastor of the former Assumption Parish in Indianapolis.

Four years later, on Nov. 30, 1977, he was appointed pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Indianapolis.

His next assignment, on July 6, 1983, was as administrator of St. Joseph Parish in St. Leon and St. Martin Parish in Yorkville, with residence in Yorkville. On April 1, 1984, he was named pastor of St. Leon and St. Martin parishes.

On July 2, 1986, he was granted an approved leave of absence while residing at St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis.

Father O’Brien was named senior priest in service at St. Matthew Parish in Indianapolis on July 8, 1987.

Two years later, he was appointed pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Franklin on July 5, 1989. On Nov. 19, 1991, he resigned his pastorate at St. Rose of Lima Parish and resided at St. Matthew Parish in Indianapolis.

On Nov. 6, 1992, he was granted permission to serve as the Catholic chaplain for St. John’s Health Care Corporation in Anderson, Ind., for a year.

In 1994, Father O’Brien resided at St. Agnes Parish in Nashville.

On Nov. 11, 1994, he was named associate pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Connersville then was appointed administrator of the parish from July 5, 1994, until Aug. 10, 1995.

Father O’Brien was named administrator of St. Bridget of Ireland Parish in Liberty on Jan. 1, 1996, and pastor on June 17, 1997, then reappointed pastor on Jan. 1, 2002.

He was granted permission for early retirement for health reasons on Nov. 29, 2006.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Timothy O’Brien.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fund. †