RIP, Br Kevin Murray: A Faithful Marist Brother for 76 Years
- maristbrothers
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
On 30 October, Br Kevin Murray passed away in Sydney, Australia. Below is an obituary written by Br Darren Burge, the Acting Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province.
It is with great sadness that I advise you that Br Kevin Murray died peacefully on 30 October in Sydney. Kevin remained conscious and talking until the last minute, his heart finally failing from old age. He was 96 years old and had been a Marist Brother for 76 years.
This gentle brother of ours was well prepared for his death. In the last few weeks, he had repeatedly mentioned that he wanted to join his old mate Vince Shekleton in heaven. His family was surprised recently when he told them to stop praying for his health and start praying for his death. Kevin had enjoyed his life and was clearly ready to transition to this next stage of life. This reflects his confidence in God, his down-to-earth attitude, and the peace he had arrived at in his life. Kevin was a simple, humble man who enjoyed his life as a Brother and the company of others.
Kevin followed the usual pattern of the monks commencing the juniorate at Mittagong in 1945, receiving the habit in 1949 and taking his first vows in July 1950. This was the start of a wonderful contribution to the life of thousands of young people he taught, listened to so compassionately and mentored. Many of these years were as a missionary in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
If you spoke to Kevin for a while, it would not take long for him to launch into a description of his life in the islands. He would become animated about the people and projects that were at the heart of his life there. The focus was rarely on formal education but on his work in the gardens and other projects that employed his hands-on skills. Kevin was into sustainability and eco-spirituality well before those labels were created. And he was most proud of the innovative water reticulation system he developed, which made water go uphill.
This sharing of his experiences was always accompanied by his heartfelt comments about the colleagues and young people with which he worked. In short, he loved the people and the simple, down-to-earth life. He wholeheartedly lived his vocation as brother in the ways that Br Peter Carroll recently asked us to in his speech at the end of the General Chapter: simple, joyful and fraternal. There is no doubt that he was well loved too.
Aside from the great affection Kevin had for the people of Papua New Guinea, especially the people of the highlands, and the Solomon Islands, he had a special place in his heart for those on the margins. He made a real connection with those most in need, living with them and responding to their needs. He was happiest when he was working with the young people living in the villages. It was no surprise that later in life when in Bendigo he volunteered with St Vincent de Paul and other community organisations that engaged with the poor. For Kevin this was a natural thing to be involved in as a man in his 80s.
The brothers who lived with Kevin remember him for his warmth, humour, and generosity. As Br Ken McDonald notes, “as a Brother in community he was a reliable presence, readily available to offer help, sharing a laugh with the brothers and always prepared to engage in conversations”. At one stage Kevin was also a valued member of the Farmhouse Community in Mittagong where he contributed these qualities and walked the journey with young adults who enjoyed engaging in conversation with him. The young people warmed to Kevin’s open-mindedness, curiosity and kindness.
Let us pray for the repose of the soul of this humble, simple brother who loved life and the people he encountered. We leave him in the care of the God he loved and the protection of Mary, Our Good Mother.
-Br Darren Burge
Acting Provincial
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