Death takes place of Brother Eustace, former guardian at Ards Friary

The death took place last week of Brother Eustace McSweeney, a former guardian at Ards Friary.

Brother Eustace served as the guards in Ards from 2001-2007.

He passed away on September 7, aged 91, in the wonderful care of his colleagues and friends in St. Francis Hospice, Raheny.

He joined the Order in 1950, spent time in Ards as a student and was ordained in St. Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny in 1958.

Brother Eustace spent some years in Wellington, serving as a guardian and a parish priest in Wellington and Auckland before moving back to Ireland when he was elected as Vicar-Provincial in 1979.

In 1984 he was elected Provincial of the Irish Capuchin Province and later Definitor General of the Capuchin Order in Rome. He also ministered in Belfast and Donegal. 

Brother Eustace later celebrated his Platinum anniversary and he was Chaplain to St Francis Hospice Raheny where until his death, he ministered as chaplain to patients with advanced cancer and motor neurone disease.

Brother Eustace’s Funeral Mass was in the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin 7 on Saturday morning and he was laid to rest in the Capuchin Cemetery, Rochestown, Cork.

The community have conveyed their sympathies to the Guardian Brother Philip and those in Ards Friary, his Capuchin confreres and to his family.

Brother Eustace was predeceased by his parents Denis and Teresa, his brothers, Morgan, Fr. Gerard OFM Cap. Con, Jerry, sister Margaret and beloved niece Teresa.

His passing is deeply regretted by his Capuchin Confreres, sisters-in-law Margaret and Nora, nieces and nephews Denis, Teresa, Fr. James, Gerard and Kathryn, grandnephews and grandnieces Rachel, Ronan, Daniel Aoife, Peter, Ella and Rian and his many friends both at home and abroad.