Most Reverend Brendan Michael O’Brien, S.T.D.

Biography

Born: September 28, 1943
Ordained: June 1, 1968
Named Bishop of Numana: May 9, 1987
Named Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa: May 9, 1987
Consecrated: June 29, 1987
Named Bishop of Pembroke: May 5, 1993
Installed as Bishop of Pembroke: June 29, 1993
Named Archbishop of St. John’s: December 4, 2000
Named Archbishop of Kingston: June 1, 2007
Retired: May 3, 2019

Archbishop O’Brien was born in Ottawa, Ontario on September 28th, 1943. He is the oldest of seven children of the late Redmond O’Brien and Margaret Foran.

He attended the University of Ottawa and St. Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario, where he obtained licentiates in philosophy and theology.

Bishop O’Brien with Pope John Paul II.

Following his ordination to the priesthood in 1968 in Ottawa, he served in several parishes and served as Co-director of the Diocesan Synod. From 1971-1974 he studied in Rome, obtaining a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Lateran University’s Academic Alfonsianum. Beginning in 1975, he taught for a number of years in the Institute of Pastoral Studies at St. Paul University. In 1984 he was named pastor of St. Augustine’s Parish, Ottawa. In 1987 he was named auxiliary bishop of Ottawa and ordained to the epispocate on June 29, 1987. In 1993 he was named Bishop of Pembroke and installed on June 29, 1993.

On January 29th, 2001, he was installed as Archbishop of St. John’s, Newfoundland. On June 1, 2007, Archbishop O’Brien was appointed Archbishop of Kingston. After 12 years of leading the faithful in Kingston, Archbishop O’Brien retired to become Archbishop Emeritus of Kingston on May 3, 2019.

Archbishop O’Brien was President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (2003-2005) and is a member of the Social Affairs Commission of the CCCB. In the past he served as a member of several committees of the Ontario Assembly of Catholic Bishops and the Assembly of Quebec Bishops. He was also State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus in Ontario.

Coat of Arms