Brother Kevin Crowley (90), who ministered at the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin for many decades, has died.
Over recent years he had been at Mount Desert Nursing Home in Cork.
He had been known throughout the country and beyond through his work in the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People which he founded on Bow Street, Dublin in 1969.
Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell recalled how Br Kevin had “devoted his life to the service of the poor. His work with the Capuchin Day Centre staff and volunteers transformed the lives of the poor and marginalised in our city who availed of its services, from misery and despair to hope and love.”
RM Block
Born at Kilcoleman, Enniskeane, Co Cork on February 24th, 1935, Br Kevin was baptised William but following entry to the Capuchin Postulancy in Kilkenny in 1958 and, later, the Novitiate in Rochestown, Co Cork, he received the name Kevin.
[ ‘He’s just a saint, just a pure out and out saint’: Founder of Capuchin Day Centre retires ]
In 1968, he was asked to take charge of the Clothing Guild in Dublin’s 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 50 persons daily. From then the numbers just grew and grew.
As he recalled in his final interview before leaving Dublin for his native Cork in August 2022, “I saw the people coming to our church. I saw the people walking the streets. I saw the people looking into dustbins and taking food out of the dustbins”. As a follower of St Francis, he “decided something should be done for them.”
It was the beginning of the Capuchin Day Centre.
He said the centre has gone from about 50 people when it started to now having 200 people for breakfast and 700 for lunch from Monday to Saturday.
A stand-out moment over the years was the visit of Pope Francis to the centre in August 2018. “The greatest for me was the day they saw the Pope coming up Bow Street in the popemobile and the first thing he did was to come up to the homeless people to greet each and every one of them. And I made it quite clear there were to be no dignitaries whatsoever here.”
What was most significant for Br Kevin about such visits was that “the homeless people were being recognised. That was the most important thing for me”.
Responding to news of Br Kevin’s death, President Michael D Higgins described him as “a warm, caring, yet fearless man, who dedicated his life to living his Christian faith in dedication to those most in need.”
He had left “a wonderful legacy to all those whose lives to which he made such a difference. Sabina and I will miss his messages, which continued after his move to Cork.”
Tributes were paid in the Dáil on Wednesday.
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said: “Ireland has lost a wonderful person, someone who brought incredible care, humility and service to support the most vulnerable in our country. We thank him for his tireless work.”
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said his work at the Capuchin Day Centre “is the stuff of legend”.
“He really was a champion for the poor and for everyone who fell on hard times without judgment and without exception. He lived for others, and he absolutely changed lives.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she had witnessed the “immense work he and his colleagues do”, adding that he had a “great sense of humour” and will be sadly missed.
The remains of Br Kevin will arrive at St Mary of the Angel’s, Church St Dublin at 5pm on Thursday evening and will lie in repose there on Friday until 6pm. Following requiem Mass on Saturday at 11am, burial will follow in Dardistown cemetery.
A book of condolences will be opened at the Mansion House in Dublin on Thursday and Friday.
