Fr Brian Larkey
Born: 14 August, 1932
Ordained: 20 July, 1957
Died: 7 December, 2015
Retired Parramatta priest and former dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral Fr Brian Larkey died in Concord Hospital on 7 December. He was 83.
The son of Clement and Mary Larkey, he grew up in the Sydney suburb of Belmore with his sisters Imelda and Pauline and brother James.
Brian was educated at St Joseph’s Primary, Belmore, and by the Christian Brothers at Chatswood.
He entered St Columba’s Seminary, Springwood, before going on to St Patrick’s Seminary, Manly.
In 1957 he was ordained to the priesthood by Norman Cardinal Gilroy at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.
When the diocese of Parramatta was established in 1986, Fr Larkey read the mandate of appointment at the Mass of installation of Bishop Bede Heather.
Fr Larkey was Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral from 1986 till 1991.
He was NSW Director of the 1986 Papal Visit when Pope John Paul II came to the newly established Diocese of Parramatta.
During his time as parish priest of St Finbar’s Parish at Glenbrook, Fr Larkey oversaw the construction of the new church and installation of a pipe organ.
He also served in the parishes of Chatswood, Rozelle, Bondi Beach, Carlingford, Avalon, Maroubra, Neutral Bay, Lewisham, Golden Grove, Parramatta, Glenbrook and Baulkham Hills.
The priest was director of the Catholic Family Life Centre from 1973 till 1983.
He retired from parish ministry in 2002.
Fr Larkey was farewelled with a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, on 11 December 2015, before being laid to rest at Rookwood Cemetery.