Br Kevin Crowley OFM Cap.

With great sadness we announce the death of our Capuchin confrere, Brother Kevin Crowley OFM Cap. Brother Kevin died early this morning (02 July 2025) in the wonderful care of Mount Desert Nursing Home in Cork. He was known throughout the country and beyond as a Brother to the poor, particularly through his work in the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People which he founded on Bow Street, Dublin in 1969. Through his ministry and life as a Capuchin Friar, Brother Kevin opened his heart and his hands to serve those most in need.

The funeral arrangements for Br Kevin Crowley:

Thursday, 3rd July 2025: Arrival to St Mary of the Angel’s, Church Street Dublin at 5pm.

Friday, 4th July: Reposing in Church St all day Friday with solemn evening prayer at 6pm.

Saturday, 5th July: Requiem Mass on at 11am with burial afterwards in Dardistown. Liveatream: www.memoriallane.ie/livestream

Obituary for Br Kevin Crowley OFM Cap

Br Kevin was born at Kilcoleman, Enniskeane, Co. Cork on February 24th, 1935. His parents, William and Catherina (O’Donovan), had him baptised William at the parish church. He attended school in the local National School and Bandon Vocational School. William entered the Capuchin Postulancy in Kilkenny on Easter Monday, April 7th, 1958, and on October 9th of the same year, he was admitted to the Novitiate in Rochestown, Co. Cork, where he received the name Kevin; there he made temporary profession on November 22nd the following year. He made his perpetual profession at St Bonaventure’s friary, Cork City, on November 22nd 1962. Over his first five years, he served as cook in St Bonaventure’s, Church Street and Raheny. His kitchen apostolate was interrupted between 1964 and 1967 when he was appointed Brother Master of Novices in Rochestown. He also served as Quester in Ards friary, Co. Donegal, for some months in 1967/68. In 1968, he was asked to take charge of the Clothing Guild in Church Street. He quickly realised that much more was required than a clothing distribution unit, so he set up the St Felix soup kitchen and Day Centre, which initially catered for up to sixty persons daily. Then, between 1988 and 2001 he served for three years as Guardian in Holy Trinity friary in Cork, followed by a further three years in the same role in Raheny, culminating with a stint of seven years as Guardian in Ards friary in Donegal. At the Provincial Chapter of 1991, Br Kevin was elected to the Provincial Council and was transferred to Church Street, where he was appointed Director of the Father Mathew Hall. He continued in that role up to 1994, while also serving as Vicar in Halston Street. On August 20th, 2001, he returned as Director of the St Felix Day Centre and went to live in Church Street. Since he had last worked in the Day Centre in 1988, it had been ably managed by Brs Luke Hickey and Des McNaboe, but for Br Kevin it was his homecoming to ‘The House of Bread’. The high light of his labours there for the following quarter of a century came on Saturday, August 25th 2018, when the Holy Father, Pope Francis, visited the Day Centre. Later that same year addressing the Capuchins from around the world gathered for their General Chapter in Rome, Pope Francis, departing from his prepared speech in the Clementine Hall in the Vatican, spoke to them from his heart about his visit to the Day Centre in Dublin, he said: “Recently in Ireland, I saw your work with the most discarded and I was moved. It is a beautiful thing that … the elderly founder told me, “Here we do not ask where you come from, who you are: you are a child of God”. This is one of your traits. To really understand the persons, by ‘smell’, unconditionally. Come in, then we will see. As Capuchins, closeness is your charism. Preserve it.”In 2022, Br Kevin, tired and unwell, reluctantly departed the Day Centre and his army of faithful volunteers and helpers and above all the needy in whom he daily met Christ, whom he had served over a lifetime and returned to his native Cork. May the good Lord now welcome him home and reward him for his faithful service.When the poor man called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. Psalm 34All people, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy! Psalm 47