Fr. Walter M. Brennan, O.S.M.
Seated at his desk in his Marian Center Office at Our Lady of Sorrows Monastery, Fr. Walter Brennan, O.S.M. died of a massive heart attack. He was sixty-five years of age and a priest for thirty-nine years.
Fr. Brennan was born the son of Michael and Nora (McHugh) Brennan, and was baptized at Our Lady of Sorrows church, where his early education and much of his life and ministry were carried out. His studies after high school and before ordination as a priest were done at Mount St. Philip, Granville, WI., Our Lady of Benburb Priory, Benburb, Ireland, and Stonebridge Priory, Lake Bluff, IL. He was ordained a priest on May 27,1961 and began his teaching career first at Mater Dolorosa Seminary, Hillside, IL and then at St. Philip High School, Chicago, IL. Even before he completed his post-graduate work he was involved with the young people on Chicago's West Side to whom he ministered as mentor, counselor, priest and friend for the rest of his priestly life.
His post-graduate work was done at the University of Chicago and De Paul University where he was that university's first recipient of a Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1970. Three years earlier he joined the faculty of De Paul as a lecturer and in the following years rose to the level of tenured professor in the theology department. He was also visiting professor in doctrinal studies and Mariology at Catholic Theological Union and served on the faculty of the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton. He was a member of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, the College Theology Society, the American Academy of Religion and the Mariological Society of America which he served as Vice-President 1993–1994 and President 1995–1996. He was the chairperson of the Marian Committee of the North American Servite Conference.
The author of numerous articles on theology, philosophy and Mariology for various Catholic publications, such as Queen of all Hearts, Catholic Library World, Ave Maria Press, and Milltown Studies, he also authored two books on Mary titled Mary Servant, Mother, Woman and The Sacred Memory of Mary.
His various offices in the Order included Master of Professed Students, Regent of Studies, Provincial Councilor and Prior Provincial of the Eastern Province (1988–1991). He was also the Director of the Servite Marian Center from 1987 until his death.
For most of his priestly life he became a beacon of hope to countless young people. Hundreds stayed off the streets and in school and then went on to college because of him. He drove them there and picked them up and bought their books and helped pay their tuition. To individuals who could not make it, he visited them in jail or said their funeral Masses and comforted their families. He provided food, clothing, jobs and friendship to thousands in the inner city and made himself available 24 hours a day to help them realize their full potential. The students he mentored went on to become lawyers, accountants and respected business and civic leaders.
His funeral, celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, which was so much a part of his life and ministry, was marked by a special resolution of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and a huge outpouring of affection and esteem by those whose lives he had touched as teacher, scholar and friend to the poor.
He was interred in the Servite section at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.
Seated at his desk in his Marian Center Office at Our Lady of Sorrows Monastery, Fr. Walter Brennan, O.S.M. died of a massive heart attack. He was sixty-five years of age and a priest for thirty-nine years.
Fr. Brennan was born the son of Michael and Nora (McHugh) Brennan, and was baptized at Our Lady of Sorrows church, where his early education and much of his life and ministry were carried out. His studies after high school and before ordination as a priest were done at Mount St. Philip, Granville, WI., Our Lady of Benburb Priory, Benburb, Ireland, and Stonebridge Priory, Lake Bluff, IL. He was ordained a priest on May 27,1961 and began his teaching career first at Mater Dolorosa Seminary, Hillside, IL and then at St. Philip High School, Chicago, IL. Even before he completed his post-graduate work he was involved with the young people on Chicago's West Side to whom he ministered as mentor, counselor, priest and friend for the rest of his priestly life.
His post-graduate work was done at the University of Chicago and De Paul University where he was that university's first recipient of a Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1970. Three years earlier he joined the faculty of De Paul as a lecturer and in the following years rose to the level of tenured professor in the theology department. He was also visiting professor in doctrinal studies and Mariology at Catholic Theological Union and served on the faculty of the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton. He was a member of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, the College Theology Society, the American Academy of Religion and the Mariological Society of America which he served as Vice-President 1993–1994 and President 1995–1996. He was the chairperson of the Marian Committee of the North American Servite Conference.
The author of numerous articles on theology, philosophy and Mariology for various Catholic publications, such as Queen of all Hearts, Catholic Library World, Ave Maria Press, and Milltown Studies, he also authored two books on Mary titled Mary Servant, Mother, Woman and The Sacred Memory of Mary.
His various offices in the Order included Master of Professed Students, Regent of Studies, Provincial Councilor and Prior Provincial of the Eastern Province (1988–1991). He was also the Director of the Servite Marian Center from 1987 until his death.
For most of his priestly life he became a beacon of hope to countless young people. Hundreds stayed off the streets and in school and then went on to college because of him. He drove them there and picked them up and bought their books and helped pay their tuition. To individuals who could not make it, he visited them in jail or said their funeral Masses and comforted their families. He provided food, clothing, jobs and friendship to thousands in the inner city and made himself available 24 hours a day to help them realize their full potential. The students he mentored went on to become lawyers, accountants and respected business and civic leaders.
His funeral, celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, which was so much a part of his life and ministry, was marked by a special resolution of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and a huge outpouring of affection and esteem by those whose lives he had touched as teacher, scholar and friend to the poor.
He was interred in the Servite section at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.
Fr. Walter M. Brennan, O.S.M.
Seated at his desk in his Marian Center Office at Our Lady of Sorrows Monastery, Fr. Walter Brennan, O.S.M. died of a massive heart attack. He was sixty-five years of age and a priest for thirty-nine years.
Fr. Brennan was born the son of Michael and Nora (McHugh) Brennan, and was baptized at Our Lady of Sorrows church, where his early education and much of his life and ministry were carried out. His studies after high school and before ordination as a priest were done at Mount St. Philip, Granville, WI., Our Lady of Benburb Priory, Benburb, Ireland, and Stonebridge Priory, Lake Bluff, IL. He was ordained a priest on May 27,1961 and began his teaching career first at Mater Dolorosa Seminary, Hillside, IL and then at St. Philip High School, Chicago, IL. Even before he completed his post-graduate work he was involved with the young people on Chicago's West Side to whom he ministered as mentor, counselor, priest and friend for the rest of his priestly life.
His post-graduate work was done at the University of Chicago and De Paul University where he was that university's first recipient of a Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1970. Three years earlier he joined the faculty of De Paul as a lecturer and in the following years rose to the level of tenured professor in the theology department. He was also visiting professor in doctrinal studies and Mariology at Catholic Theological Union and served on the faculty of the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton. He was a member of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, the College Theology Society, the American Academy of Religion and the Mariological Society of America which he served as Vice-President 1993–1994 and President 1995–1996. He was the chairperson of the Marian Committee of the North American Servite Conference.
The author of numerous articles on theology, philosophy and Mariology for various Catholic publications, such as Queen of all Hearts, Catholic Library World, Ave Maria Press, and Milltown Studies, he also authored two books on Mary titled Mary Servant, Mother, Woman and The Sacred Memory of Mary.
His various offices in the Order included Master of Professed Students, Regent of Studies, Provincial Councilor and Prior Provincial of the Eastern Province (1988–1991). He was also the Director of the Servite Marian Center from 1987 until his death.
For most of his priestly life he became a beacon of hope to countless young people. Hundreds stayed off the streets and in school and then went on to college because of him. He drove them there and picked them up and bought their books and helped pay their tuition. To individuals who could not make it, he visited them in jail or said their funeral Masses and comforted their families. He provided food, clothing, jobs and friendship to thousands in the inner city and made himself available 24 hours a day to help them realize their full potential. The students he mentored went on to become lawyers, accountants and respected business and civic leaders.
His funeral, celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, which was so much a part of his life and ministry, was marked by a special resolution of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and a huge outpouring of affection and esteem by those whose lives he had touched as teacher, scholar and friend to the poor.
He was interred in the Servite section at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.
Seated at his desk in his Marian Center Office at Our Lady of Sorrows Monastery, Fr. Walter Brennan, O.S.M. died of a massive heart attack. He was sixty-five years of age and a priest for thirty-nine years.
Fr. Brennan was born the son of Michael and Nora (McHugh) Brennan, and was baptized at Our Lady of Sorrows church, where his early education and much of his life and ministry were carried out. His studies after high school and before ordination as a priest were done at Mount St. Philip, Granville, WI., Our Lady of Benburb Priory, Benburb, Ireland, and Stonebridge Priory, Lake Bluff, IL. He was ordained a priest on May 27,1961 and began his teaching career first at Mater Dolorosa Seminary, Hillside, IL and then at St. Philip High School, Chicago, IL. Even before he completed his post-graduate work he was involved with the young people on Chicago's West Side to whom he ministered as mentor, counselor, priest and friend for the rest of his priestly life.
His post-graduate work was done at the University of Chicago and De Paul University where he was that university's first recipient of a Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1970. Three years earlier he joined the faculty of De Paul as a lecturer and in the following years rose to the level of tenured professor in the theology department. He was also visiting professor in doctrinal studies and Mariology at Catholic Theological Union and served on the faculty of the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton. He was a member of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, the College Theology Society, the American Academy of Religion and the Mariological Society of America which he served as Vice-President 1993–1994 and President 1995–1996. He was the chairperson of the Marian Committee of the North American Servite Conference.
The author of numerous articles on theology, philosophy and Mariology for various Catholic publications, such as Queen of all Hearts, Catholic Library World, Ave Maria Press, and Milltown Studies, he also authored two books on Mary titled Mary Servant, Mother, Woman and The Sacred Memory of Mary.
His various offices in the Order included Master of Professed Students, Regent of Studies, Provincial Councilor and Prior Provincial of the Eastern Province (1988–1991). He was also the Director of the Servite Marian Center from 1987 until his death.
For most of his priestly life he became a beacon of hope to countless young people. Hundreds stayed off the streets and in school and then went on to college because of him. He drove them there and picked them up and bought their books and helped pay their tuition. To individuals who could not make it, he visited them in jail or said their funeral Masses and comforted their families. He provided food, clothing, jobs and friendship to thousands in the inner city and made himself available 24 hours a day to help them realize their full potential. The students he mentored went on to become lawyers, accountants and respected business and civic leaders.
His funeral, celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, which was so much a part of his life and ministry, was marked by a special resolution of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and a huge outpouring of affection and esteem by those whose lives he had touched as teacher, scholar and friend to the poor.
He was interred in the Servite section at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.
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