Fonds - O`Brien, Monsignor Edward J.

Monsignor Edward J. O'Brien (1884-1986) was born in Carbonear, NL on 13 November 1884. Between 1891 and 1901 he attended Carbonear Academy under Lawrence Mackey Esq, thereafter attending St. Bonaventures College from 1901 to 1904, and All Hallows College, Ireland from 1904 to 1910. He was ordained on 24 June 1910 at All Hallows Seminary. OBriens first assignment was at Immaculate Conception Parish in Harbour Grace, NL. Thereafter, he was assigned to Tilting, Fogo Island, NL as permanent priest from 1910 to 1914. His next assignment, in 1915, took him to Northern Bay where he continued as parish priest until the end of his career. OBrien spent his summers in Labrador, NL acting as missionary priest to the scattered settlements along the coast from 1921 to 1946. For this work he was made an honorary member of the Oblates. His love of photography and motion picture film led him to document his life and work in Labrador, this resulting in a valuable visual record of his congregations and their way of life. In 1979, Memorial Universitys Extension Service produced a documentary film about the life of Father OBrien entitled THE INDIANSFATHER WHITEHEAD. In addition to OBrien becoming an honorary member of the Oblates, he was also honoured with a Monsignor and Domestic Prelate in 1956, and in 1979 was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by Memorial University. OàBrien retired in 1970, after 76 years as a priest. He died 21 February 1986 in Carbonear at the age of 101 years.