Fr. Brendan McConvery C.Ss.R. Biography
Brendan was born in Belfast on the 2nd of February 1947 in the Springfield Road area. After his First Communion, he became an altar server in Clonard church. He attended St. Mary’s CBS for his second level studies and subsequently joined the Redemptorist novitiate in Esker in 1964 where he was professed in September 1965. He then studied for a degree in English and French in UCG and proceeded with further studies in Cluain Mhuire and Marianella. He was ordained on the 7th of July 1974.
He ministered in Ireland for a few years and taught in the Redemptorist Juvenate in Limerick before going to Rome for further studies, specializing in Scripture. On returning to Ireland, he lectured in the Kimmage Institute and helped with courses in the Marianella Pastoral Centre. In the mid 1990’s he worked in the Scripture Department in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth and for some years he was Dean of Theology there. He was remembered there as a respected scripture scholar full of wisdom, kindness, and generosity of spirit, with a gift of communicating the Bible to a broad readership.
He was a prolific writer. He wrote frequently for Dominican publications and the Redemptorist magazine ‘Reality’. He was the editor of ‘Reality’ for several years. While Scripture was the focus of his studies, he took a keen interest in history and wrote a history of the Redemptorists in Ireland and the Redemptorist churches in Clonard and Mount St. Alphonsus.
He was pastorally minded and helped in the parish in Luxembourg for many Summers. He was very supportive of anyone who sought his help during his lifetime, particularly his students and elderly confreres.
May our dear confrere rest in peace,
