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 a while” however his desire was all the time to assist others and never himself.
“Father Bob was not only a much-loved member of the family however was beloved 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 ideas, and he fought to actively stay these ideas.”
The household stated he was all the time working for deprived households and individuals who he had “nice love and compassion for”.
“He wished 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 have been his actual ardour.”
The household stated it had been a troublesome few months and thanked medical employees for his or her help.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the nation had “misplaced an awesome Australian” with Maguire’s dying.
“An irrepressibly cheerful champion for all these battling drawback, he devoted his life to brightening the lives of these most in want,” he stated.
“A person of heat and religion who confronted struggles with a cheeky grin. Could he relaxation in peace.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns stated our nation had simply misplaced a hero.
“The folks’s priest. A social justice warrior,” he stated.
“And a person who devoted his life to religion and standing up for these most weak. 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 over time.
He was parish priest of Sts. Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church in South Melbourne from 1973 to 2012.
Maguire turned a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 for his service to homeless youth. In 2011 he was Victorian of the 12 months.
He based the Father Bob Maguire Basis in 2003, which has a mission to “present materials, emotional and social assist to whomever, every time and wherever crucial”.
The inspiration additionally goals to finish homelessness and drawback via making a caring group.
On the muse’s web site, Maguire stated he thought he had his work lower 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, fortunately, tempered by liberal doses of scepticism; however they beloved each other and cared for one another in a manner that also leaves me breathless,” Maguire stated.
“That’s what conjures up my basis and the pathway I’ve chosen till the tip of my days.
“They are going to carry it ahead after that, as a result of the muse is, at its coronary heart, a contract between folks that’s inviolable.”
He stated the muse was a dedication to “social salvation and redemption of our most weak fellow residents”.
“Most necessary of all is that I am working creatively with ‘the following technology’ of people that will take the work of the muse ahead.
“All are younger, proud and passionate, they usually perceive what the muse stands for and what it may well proceed to attain.
“I imagine completely that the Father Bob Maguire Basis will proceed to develop and be a loud and passionate advocate for the unvoiced and forgotten.”
Simply final week Maguire stepped down from his function as chairman and member of the Father Bob Maguire Basis board.
“Fr Bob will proceed to be our inspiration and we count on that he could have on-going enter into our packages and companies to make sure that no one will should be left behind,” the muse’s assertion from April 14 stated.
“The inspiration will probably be persevering with the work commenced by Fr Bob and in a manner constant along with his lifelong dedication to the underprivileged, particularly the unloved and the unlovely.
“As a part of the restructuring, the prevailing administrative employees of the Basis have been made redundant efficient instantly.”
The inspiration additionally plans to maneuver from its present premises.
“His give attention to these most deprived and alienated in our society will probably be continued by the muse. He has been and can proceed to be our inspiration,” the muse stated.
Through 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 gives groceries to folks locally going through challenges or monetary hardship.
