(October 8, 2024; Darien, IL)  

             The Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, Order of Carmelites, mourns the death of the Reverend Kevin McBrien, O.Carm., who died at the age of 81, on October 8, 2024, at Providence-St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, California.

            Kevin was born to (the late) Joseph F. McBrien and (the late) Lucy F. (Barbeau) McBrien on March 30, 1943, in Salem, Massachusetts.  His given name at baptism was Kevin Michael.  He was predeceased by his brother, Rev. Dennis (John) McBrien, O.Carm., and is survived by his sister Kathleen Bouchard, and his brother, Harold McBrien.

            Kevin attended the Carmelite Junior Seminary in Hamilton, Massachusetts, from 1957-1962.  He then attended Mount Carmel College in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, receiving a BA Degree in Philosophy in 1967.  He continued his studies at the Washington Theological Coalition from 1967 to 1970, and then received a MA Degree in Education at the University of Detroit in 1973.

            Kevin professed his simple vows at the Carmelite Novitiate in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania on August 22, 1964, and professed his solemn vows as a Carmelite at Whitefriars Hall in Washington, DC, on January 30, 1970.  Ordained a deacon on February 13, 1970, at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, he was ordained to priesthood by Bishop Nevin Hayes, O.Carm., on May 16, 1970, at the Carmelite Junior Seminary in Hamilton, Massachusetts.

            Fr. Kevin’s first assignment as a priest was as Associate Pastor and Youth Minister at Immaculate Conception Parish, Norwood, New Jersey, 1970-1971.  He then served as Associate Pastor at St. Cecilia Parish in Englewood, New Jersey from 1971-1973. 

            For the next 13 years, Fr. Kevin served on the faculty of a number of Carmelite High Schools.  He served from 1973-1981 at Joliet Catholic High School in Joliet, Illinois; from 1981-1983 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Houston, Texas; and from 1983-1986 at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California.

            Fr. Kevin returned to parish ministry in 1986, serving as Associate Pastor of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish in North Hollywood, California from 1986 to 1991, and then as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Fairfield, California, from 1991 to 1997.

            Fr. Kevin served as the Western Carmelite Vocation Director from 1997 to 2005, while also serving as the Western Commissary Provincial from 2003 to 2006.  In 2007, Fr. Kevin served as Parochial Vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Chicago, Illinois, while also serving as Prior of the Carmelite formation community at Carith House, 2007-2008.  From 2008-2010, Fr. Kevin then served as Parochial Vicar at St. Matthew Parish in Glendale Heights, Illinois.

            Fr. Kevin resided at St. Therese Priory in Phoenix, Arizona from 2010-2020, until he moved in 2020 to Villa Scalabrini in Sun Valley, California, where he remained until his death.

            Que descanse en paz.

            A funeral Mass will be celebrated for Fr. Kevin at Villa Scalabrini in Sun Valley, California, October 25, 2024. Burial will take place at a later date at St. Mary Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts.

            Donations in honor of the Reverend Kevin McBrien, O.Carm., may be made to: The Society of Mount Carmel, 1317 North Frontage Road, Darien, Illinois 60561.

            For further information on the Reverend Kevin McBrien, O.Carm., or the Order of Carmelites, please contact Carmelite Media at (630) 971-0724 or visit the Carmelite website at www.carmelites.net