The Fr Bob Maguire Foundation
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Inspired by the lifetime work of one of Australia's genuine heroes, the outspoken South Melbourne parish priest, Fr Bob Maguire, this is a foundation connected to the very fibre of our community and its pressing social issues.
Currently, its efforts assist such charities as:
Within all these efforts, the overriding principle is for the Fr Bob Maguire Foundation to ensure practical help is directed to the areas of most need at any given time.
Most importantly, it's also a foundation that will hold true to the spirit of one man and his vision; maintaining a dedication to the issues society finds too hard or too loathesome to tackle.
Awarded the Order of Australia in 1989, a Centenary Medal in 2003 and named Entrepreneur of the Year for the Southern Region of Australia for a Social, Community or Not For Profit Organisation, Fr Bob Maguire is one of those men that, ever once in a while, is worthy of building a foundation on.
About Fr Bob Maguire
Fr Bob Maguire is a man of passion, creativity and humour; he is part Billy Connolly, part angry Old Testament prophet and part compassionate Mother Theresa. He would hate this categorisation. But he has a unique combination of traits. In each of these he is a risk taker.
He is an elusive chameleon, a man of brilliant riddles.
He believes that the role of the prophet inevitably means making enemies, and he does. But he is much loved, especially by young people and the down and outs. A motto of his is that, 'I would not have them look up and not be fed'.
Born in 1934, by the age of 16, two of Bob's sisters, his alcoholic father, and mother had all died. He says that the circumstances of his early life left him a bit feral. But he was cared for by the remaining family and by some nuns and priests.
Burnt into him was a sense of empathy both with those who were very damaged and defeated by life and an admiration for those who were compassionate healers.
In 1965, Bob joined the Army Reserve. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and led the Character Training Unit for young officers during the Vietnam War.
Since 1973 he has been the Catholic parish priest of Sts Peter and Paul church in South Melbourne, Australia. From this base, and through his foundations, he has worked, hands on, with the homeless, sick, criminal and addicted. He has had successes and failures.
In his own words, Bob sees his work as a "life-long attempt to empower teens, twenty-somethings and even children to be their unique selves... unique contributors in recreating the world and the cosmos". He believes that the Father Bob Maguire Foundation needs to be "urgent, sensitive to young peoples' fragile dreams and flexible in responding to young people of every class and creed".
With his gifts, he has become a national media figure. He has extensive experience on Australian TV and radio. His latest appearance was as a rapper for the Variety Club.
At 73, he is still throwing out many ideas for new ventures such as Spirituality Australia and Chaplains without Borders. He continues to offer help to smaller charities by including them under the umbrella of the FBMF.
Mentally troubled people identify with 'Crazy compassionate Bob'. He thinks this is the best recommendation.
Links:
web: www.fatherbob.com.au
podcast:
fatherbob.thepodcastnetwork.com
