Former Auxiliary for the Archdiocese of Westminster and Bishop of the Titular See of Manaccenser, Msgr. James Joseph O'Brien was born at Wood Green, London, England, one of a family of five. His early education took place at St. Paul's Primary School and passing the scholarship to become a pupil at St. Ignatius College, then situated at Stamford Hill, he decided to enter the priesthood through the See of Westminster, studying at Allen Hall, St. Edmund's College, then at Old Hall Green in Ware.
Ordained on June 12, 1954 at Westminster Cathedral by Cardinal Bernard William Griffin, his first and only, parochial appointment was as curate to Father Bridgmen at St. Lawrence's in Feltham from 1954 until 1962. In later years he would enjoy telling stories of the Spartan life he endured in those early years of priesthood and retained a lasting happy memory of his time there. Becoming a member of the Catholic Missionary Society in 1962, a group of diocesan priests who lived in community and conducted missions throughout England and Wales, the years that followed proved to be very formative ones in his life, and the experience and knowledge he acquired stood him in good stead in his future responsibilities.
Appointed director of the Catholic Enquiry Centre in 1966, which conducted outstanding work in the area of evangelisation, responding to many thousands of people seeking information about the Catholic Church, Cardinal John Heenan appointed him rector of Allen Hall in 1968. This was the year of the Paris student riots and the turmoil which took place in educational establishments throughout Europe was reflected both in church and society at large. His calm demeanour, humility and graciousness to staff and students alike ensured that Allen Hall avoided the worst excess of this turbulent period. The changing face of priestly formation led to the decision that the seminary should move to London in order that students might take advantage both of the pastoral and academic opportunities available in the City. Stories of "the move" in 1975 are legendary. That it was achieved successfully was due, in no small part, to his wisdom and guidance.
Elected auxiliary bishop of Westminster by Pope Paul VI, he received his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Manaccenser from Cardinal George Basil Hume OSB., on September 21, 1977. Assuming responsibility for his beloved Hertfordshire in succession to the former president of St. Edmund's College, Bishop Christopher Butler OSB., he was to serve the priests and people of Hertfordshire with total dedication for the next twenty eight years. During that time, his commitment to ecumenical relations became a hallmark of his ministry. Developing close personal relationships with each of the Bishops of St. Albans with whom he worked, the weekly celebration of Mass in the abbey and the annual ecumenical youth festival and pilgrimage were just two expressions of this important dimension of his life and work. His contribution to life of the wider community of Hertfordshire was recognized by the award of an Honorary Doctorate in Letters by the University of Hertfordshire.
As with all bishops, Bishop O'Brien also had national and international responsibilities. Chair of the Committee for Ministerial Formation on behalf of the Bishops' Conference, as a representative of the Hierarchy of England and Wales and also of CAFOD he represented the church in this country at the funeral of Archbishop Oscar Romero in El Salvador following his assassination on March 24, 1980. There, he experienced at first hand the danger and violence which erupted on that occasion and gave moving interviews on radio and television about those events. Responsible in the diocese for the Department of Ecumenism, Interfaith and Justice and Peace in his later years, each of these areas benefited from his knowledge, understanding and expertise.
Bishop Jim epitomised the description of a gentleman and a priest. His ready smile; his response when asked about his well-being "Splendid my dear"; his advice "Don't take life too seriously" were expressive of his deep personal faith and knowledge of himself. Long before CAFOD introduced its initiative "Live Simply", Bishop Jim was doing precisely that – often to the amusement of others. In his humility, he was able to laugh at himself and indulge in his great hobby of walking, bee keeping and latterly caring for his beloved labrador, Ben.
At the onset of his final illness he wrote to the priests in his usual gentle way.
"I am even more grateful to God for the wonderful life with which he has blest me. Fifty two years in the priesthood, over half of which were spent as a bishop in Hertfordshire, have given me great joy. Despite many human weaknesses, you and the parishioners have shown me consistent kindness and love, and not least during my various illnesses. Illness can have many benefits. It gives one a chance to reflect – to realise one's dependence on God and the love of others and to recognise that God's Grace is everywhere...Please continue your prayers now that God's holy will may be done so that He may be glorified in all things. In the end, that is all that really matters".
Bishop James died peacefully on Wednesday April 11, 2007, after a long illness, bravely borne. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, made the following statement:
"I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Bishop James O'Brien. I had the great privilege of celebrating Mass with him at his bedside on Easter Sunday, just a few days before he died. Over the past months, during the course of his illness, I have been greatly edified by Bishop Jim's strong faith and confidence in the Lord whom he served with such generosity and devotion for over fifty years as priest and bishop. The Diocese of Westminster has lost a great servant and there will be many who will mourn his death. We priests particularly will miss him very much for his friendship, his humour and his great love for the Diocese. I extend my sincere sympathy to his brother and sisters, and his family and friends. May he rest in peace".
Bishop O'Brien's body was received into the church of St. Alban and St. Stephen, St. Albans, by the said Cardinal on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. Mass was celebrated at 7.00 pm that evening and will be followed by an all night vigil.
With his body received into Westminster Cathedral at 7.30 pm., of the following day, on Friday 20, morning prayer for the dead was celebrated at 10.00 am., followed by Requiem Mass at 12 noon, with the Cardinal acting as main celebrant.
Ordained on June 12, 1954 at Westminster Cathedral by Cardinal Bernard William Griffin, his first and only, parochial appointment was as curate to Father Bridgmen at St. Lawrence's in Feltham from 1954 until 1962. In later years he would enjoy telling stories of the Spartan life he endured in those early years of priesthood and retained a lasting happy memory of his time there. Becoming a member of the Catholic Missionary Society in 1962, a group of diocesan priests who lived in community and conducted missions throughout England and Wales, the years that followed proved to be very formative ones in his life, and the experience and knowledge he acquired stood him in good stead in his future responsibilities.
Appointed director of the Catholic Enquiry Centre in 1966, which conducted outstanding work in the area of evangelisation, responding to many thousands of people seeking information about the Catholic Church, Cardinal John Heenan appointed him rector of Allen Hall in 1968. This was the year of the Paris student riots and the turmoil which took place in educational establishments throughout Europe was reflected both in church and society at large. His calm demeanour, humility and graciousness to staff and students alike ensured that Allen Hall avoided the worst excess of this turbulent period. The changing face of priestly formation led to the decision that the seminary should move to London in order that students might take advantage both of the pastoral and academic opportunities available in the City. Stories of "the move" in 1975 are legendary. That it was achieved successfully was due, in no small part, to his wisdom and guidance.
Elected auxiliary bishop of Westminster by Pope Paul VI, he received his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Manaccenser from Cardinal George Basil Hume OSB., on September 21, 1977. Assuming responsibility for his beloved Hertfordshire in succession to the former president of St. Edmund's College, Bishop Christopher Butler OSB., he was to serve the priests and people of Hertfordshire with total dedication for the next twenty eight years. During that time, his commitment to ecumenical relations became a hallmark of his ministry. Developing close personal relationships with each of the Bishops of St. Albans with whom he worked, the weekly celebration of Mass in the abbey and the annual ecumenical youth festival and pilgrimage were just two expressions of this important dimension of his life and work. His contribution to life of the wider community of Hertfordshire was recognized by the award of an Honorary Doctorate in Letters by the University of Hertfordshire.
As with all bishops, Bishop O'Brien also had national and international responsibilities. Chair of the Committee for Ministerial Formation on behalf of the Bishops' Conference, as a representative of the Hierarchy of England and Wales and also of CAFOD he represented the church in this country at the funeral of Archbishop Oscar Romero in El Salvador following his assassination on March 24, 1980. There, he experienced at first hand the danger and violence which erupted on that occasion and gave moving interviews on radio and television about those events. Responsible in the diocese for the Department of Ecumenism, Interfaith and Justice and Peace in his later years, each of these areas benefited from his knowledge, understanding and expertise.
Bishop Jim epitomised the description of a gentleman and a priest. His ready smile; his response when asked about his well-being "Splendid my dear"; his advice "Don't take life too seriously" were expressive of his deep personal faith and knowledge of himself. Long before CAFOD introduced its initiative "Live Simply", Bishop Jim was doing precisely that – often to the amusement of others. In his humility, he was able to laugh at himself and indulge in his great hobby of walking, bee keeping and latterly caring for his beloved labrador, Ben.
At the onset of his final illness he wrote to the priests in his usual gentle way.
"I am even more grateful to God for the wonderful life with which he has blest me. Fifty two years in the priesthood, over half of which were spent as a bishop in Hertfordshire, have given me great joy. Despite many human weaknesses, you and the parishioners have shown me consistent kindness and love, and not least during my various illnesses. Illness can have many benefits. It gives one a chance to reflect – to realise one's dependence on God and the love of others and to recognise that God's Grace is everywhere...Please continue your prayers now that God's holy will may be done so that He may be glorified in all things. In the end, that is all that really matters".
Bishop James died peacefully on Wednesday April 11, 2007, after a long illness, bravely borne. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, made the following statement:
"I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Bishop James O'Brien. I had the great privilege of celebrating Mass with him at his bedside on Easter Sunday, just a few days before he died. Over the past months, during the course of his illness, I have been greatly edified by Bishop Jim's strong faith and confidence in the Lord whom he served with such generosity and devotion for over fifty years as priest and bishop. The Diocese of Westminster has lost a great servant and there will be many who will mourn his death. We priests particularly will miss him very much for his friendship, his humour and his great love for the Diocese. I extend my sincere sympathy to his brother and sisters, and his family and friends. May he rest in peace".
Bishop O'Brien's body was received into the church of St. Alban and St. Stephen, St. Albans, by the said Cardinal on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. Mass was celebrated at 7.00 pm that evening and will be followed by an all night vigil.
With his body received into Westminster Cathedral at 7.30 pm., of the following day, on Friday 20, morning prayer for the dead was celebrated at 10.00 am., followed by Requiem Mass at 12 noon, with the Cardinal acting as main celebrant.
Former Auxiliary for the Archdiocese of Westminster and Bishop of the Titular See of Manaccenser, Msgr. James Joseph O'Brien was born at Wood Green, London, England, one of a family of five. His early education took place at St. Paul's Primary School and passing the scholarship to become a pupil at St. Ignatius College, then situated at Stamford Hill, he decided to enter the priesthood through the See of Westminster, studying at Allen Hall, St. Edmund's College, then at Old Hall Green in Ware.
Ordained on June 12, 1954 at Westminster Cathedral by Cardinal Bernard William Griffin, his first and only, parochial appointment was as curate to Father Bridgmen at St. Lawrence's in Feltham from 1954 until 1962. In later years he would enjoy telling stories of the Spartan life he endured in those early years of priesthood and retained a lasting happy memory of his time there. Becoming a member of the Catholic Missionary Society in 1962, a group of diocesan priests who lived in community and conducted missions throughout England and Wales, the years that followed proved to be very formative ones in his life, and the experience and knowledge he acquired stood him in good stead in his future responsibilities.
Appointed director of the Catholic Enquiry Centre in 1966, which conducted outstanding work in the area of evangelisation, responding to many thousands of people seeking information about the Catholic Church, Cardinal John Heenan appointed him rector of Allen Hall in 1968. This was the year of the Paris student riots and the turmoil which took place in educational establishments throughout Europe was reflected both in church and society at large. His calm demeanour, humility and graciousness to staff and students alike ensured that Allen Hall avoided the worst excess of this turbulent period. The changing face of priestly formation led to the decision that the seminary should move to London in order that students might take advantage both of the pastoral and academic opportunities available in the City. Stories of "the move" in 1975 are legendary. That it was achieved successfully was due, in no small part, to his wisdom and guidance.
Elected auxiliary bishop of Westminster by Pope Paul VI, he received his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Manaccenser from Cardinal George Basil Hume OSB., on September 21, 1977. Assuming responsibility for his beloved Hertfordshire in succession to the former president of St. Edmund's College, Bishop Christopher Butler OSB., he was to serve the priests and people of Hertfordshire with total dedication for the next twenty eight years. During that time, his commitment to ecumenical relations became a hallmark of his ministry. Developing close personal relationships with each of the Bishops of St. Albans with whom he worked, the weekly celebration of Mass in the abbey and the annual ecumenical youth festival and pilgrimage were just two expressions of this important dimension of his life and work. His contribution to life of the wider community of Hertfordshire was recognized by the award of an Honorary Doctorate in Letters by the University of Hertfordshire.
As with all bishops, Bishop O'Brien also had national and international responsibilities. Chair of the Committee for Ministerial Formation on behalf of the Bishops' Conference, as a representative of the Hierarchy of England and Wales and also of CAFOD he represented the church in this country at the funeral of Archbishop Oscar Romero in El Salvador following his assassination on March 24, 1980. There, he experienced at first hand the danger and violence which erupted on that occasion and gave moving interviews on radio and television about those events. Responsible in the diocese for the Department of Ecumenism, Interfaith and Justice and Peace in his later years, each of these areas benefited from his knowledge, understanding and expertise.
Bishop Jim epitomised the description of a gentleman and a priest. His ready smile; his response when asked about his well-being "Splendid my dear"; his advice "Don't take life too seriously" were expressive of his deep personal faith and knowledge of himself. Long before CAFOD introduced its initiative "Live Simply", Bishop Jim was doing precisely that – often to the amusement of others. In his humility, he was able to laugh at himself and indulge in his great hobby of walking, bee keeping and latterly caring for his beloved labrador, Ben.
At the onset of his final illness he wrote to the priests in his usual gentle way.
"I am even more grateful to God for the wonderful life with which he has blest me. Fifty two years in the priesthood, over half of which were spent as a bishop in Hertfordshire, have given me great joy. Despite many human weaknesses, you and the parishioners have shown me consistent kindness and love, and not least during my various illnesses. Illness can have many benefits. It gives one a chance to reflect – to realise one's dependence on God and the love of others and to recognise that God's Grace is everywhere...Please continue your prayers now that God's holy will may be done so that He may be glorified in all things. In the end, that is all that really matters".
Bishop James died peacefully on Wednesday April 11, 2007, after a long illness, bravely borne. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, made the following statement:
"I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Bishop James O'Brien. I had the great privilege of celebrating Mass with him at his bedside on Easter Sunday, just a few days before he died. Over the past months, during the course of his illness, I have been greatly edified by Bishop Jim's strong faith and confidence in the Lord whom he served with such generosity and devotion for over fifty years as priest and bishop. The Diocese of Westminster has lost a great servant and there will be many who will mourn his death. We priests particularly will miss him very much for his friendship, his humour and his great love for the Diocese. I extend my sincere sympathy to his brother and sisters, and his family and friends. May he rest in peace".
Bishop O'Brien's body was received into the church of St. Alban and St. Stephen, St. Albans, by the said Cardinal on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. Mass was celebrated at 7.00 pm that evening and will be followed by an all night vigil.
With his body received into Westminster Cathedral at 7.30 pm., of the following day, on Friday 20, morning prayer for the dead was celebrated at 10.00 am., followed by Requiem Mass at 12 noon, with the Cardinal acting as main celebrant.
Ordained on June 12, 1954 at Westminster Cathedral by Cardinal Bernard William Griffin, his first and only, parochial appointment was as curate to Father Bridgmen at St. Lawrence's in Feltham from 1954 until 1962. In later years he would enjoy telling stories of the Spartan life he endured in those early years of priesthood and retained a lasting happy memory of his time there. Becoming a member of the Catholic Missionary Society in 1962, a group of diocesan priests who lived in community and conducted missions throughout England and Wales, the years that followed proved to be very formative ones in his life, and the experience and knowledge he acquired stood him in good stead in his future responsibilities.
Appointed director of the Catholic Enquiry Centre in 1966, which conducted outstanding work in the area of evangelisation, responding to many thousands of people seeking information about the Catholic Church, Cardinal John Heenan appointed him rector of Allen Hall in 1968. This was the year of the Paris student riots and the turmoil which took place in educational establishments throughout Europe was reflected both in church and society at large. His calm demeanour, humility and graciousness to staff and students alike ensured that Allen Hall avoided the worst excess of this turbulent period. The changing face of priestly formation led to the decision that the seminary should move to London in order that students might take advantage both of the pastoral and academic opportunities available in the City. Stories of "the move" in 1975 are legendary. That it was achieved successfully was due, in no small part, to his wisdom and guidance.
Elected auxiliary bishop of Westminster by Pope Paul VI, he received his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Manaccenser from Cardinal George Basil Hume OSB., on September 21, 1977. Assuming responsibility for his beloved Hertfordshire in succession to the former president of St. Edmund's College, Bishop Christopher Butler OSB., he was to serve the priests and people of Hertfordshire with total dedication for the next twenty eight years. During that time, his commitment to ecumenical relations became a hallmark of his ministry. Developing close personal relationships with each of the Bishops of St. Albans with whom he worked, the weekly celebration of Mass in the abbey and the annual ecumenical youth festival and pilgrimage were just two expressions of this important dimension of his life and work. His contribution to life of the wider community of Hertfordshire was recognized by the award of an Honorary Doctorate in Letters by the University of Hertfordshire.
As with all bishops, Bishop O'Brien also had national and international responsibilities. Chair of the Committee for Ministerial Formation on behalf of the Bishops' Conference, as a representative of the Hierarchy of England and Wales and also of CAFOD he represented the church in this country at the funeral of Archbishop Oscar Romero in El Salvador following his assassination on March 24, 1980. There, he experienced at first hand the danger and violence which erupted on that occasion and gave moving interviews on radio and television about those events. Responsible in the diocese for the Department of Ecumenism, Interfaith and Justice and Peace in his later years, each of these areas benefited from his knowledge, understanding and expertise.
Bishop Jim epitomised the description of a gentleman and a priest. His ready smile; his response when asked about his well-being "Splendid my dear"; his advice "Don't take life too seriously" were expressive of his deep personal faith and knowledge of himself. Long before CAFOD introduced its initiative "Live Simply", Bishop Jim was doing precisely that – often to the amusement of others. In his humility, he was able to laugh at himself and indulge in his great hobby of walking, bee keeping and latterly caring for his beloved labrador, Ben.
At the onset of his final illness he wrote to the priests in his usual gentle way.
"I am even more grateful to God for the wonderful life with which he has blest me. Fifty two years in the priesthood, over half of which were spent as a bishop in Hertfordshire, have given me great joy. Despite many human weaknesses, you and the parishioners have shown me consistent kindness and love, and not least during my various illnesses. Illness can have many benefits. It gives one a chance to reflect – to realise one's dependence on God and the love of others and to recognise that God's Grace is everywhere...Please continue your prayers now that God's holy will may be done so that He may be glorified in all things. In the end, that is all that really matters".
Bishop James died peacefully on Wednesday April 11, 2007, after a long illness, bravely borne. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, made the following statement:
"I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Bishop James O'Brien. I had the great privilege of celebrating Mass with him at his bedside on Easter Sunday, just a few days before he died. Over the past months, during the course of his illness, I have been greatly edified by Bishop Jim's strong faith and confidence in the Lord whom he served with such generosity and devotion for over fifty years as priest and bishop. The Diocese of Westminster has lost a great servant and there will be many who will mourn his death. We priests particularly will miss him very much for his friendship, his humour and his great love for the Diocese. I extend my sincere sympathy to his brother and sisters, and his family and friends. May he rest in peace".
Bishop O'Brien's body was received into the church of St. Alban and St. Stephen, St. Albans, by the said Cardinal on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. Mass was celebrated at 7.00 pm that evening and will be followed by an all night vigil.
With his body received into Westminster Cathedral at 7.30 pm., of the following day, on Friday 20, morning prayer for the dead was celebrated at 10.00 am., followed by Requiem Mass at 12 noon, with the Cardinal acting as main celebrant.
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