In a statement announcing Br Kevin’s death on July 2, at Mount Desert Nursing Home in Cork, the Capuchins said he was known throughout the country and beyond as “a Brother to the poor”, particularly through his work in the Capuchin Day Centre for homeless people which he founded on Bow Street, Dublin in 1969.
“Through his ministry and life as a Capuchin Friar, Br. Kevin opened his heart and his hands to serve those most in need.”
The highlight of his work at the Capuchin Day Centre was the visit of Pope Francis on Saturday, 25 August 2018, during the World Meeting of Families in Ireland.
Tributes have been paid to the 90-year-old who was the face of the Irish Church’s efforts to tackle the ongoing homeless crisis in the Irish capital.
Responding to news of his death, Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin said Br Kevin was “an authentic follower” of St Francis of Assisi. “His was a love that reached out with no questions asked of those who sought assistance.”
Archbishop Farrell said Br Kevin’s devotion to the service of the poor through his work at the Capuchin Day Centre transformed the lives of the poor and marginalised who availed of its services, “from misery and despair to hope and love”.
“He was always able to see Christ in the people he met,” the Archbishop said and added that as people mourned, Br Kevin “would want us to remember the poor we still have with us in ever greater numbers because of homelessness, wars, famine and the multiplicity of addictions that affect our county today”.
President Michael D. Higgins said that through his support and respect for those most in need, Br Kevin “made an invaluable contribution to the people of Dublin city”.
The President noted that the Capuchin Day Centre had provided essential services to the homeless population of Dublin for 60 years and said Br Kevin had left “a wonderful legacy”.
“The hot meals, food parcels, clothing, showers, family services, and medical and dental services have not just extended care of the most vulnerable, but has been exemplary in showing a fundamental respect for the dignity of each person and allowed so many of those who have availed of the services to rebuild their lives.”
Referring to his many meetings with Br Kevin over the years, he said the Capuchin “was a warm, caring, yet fearless man, who dedicated his life to living his Christian faith in dedication to those most in need.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin described Br Kevin as “a tireless and passionate advocate for justice” who had dedicated his life to helping those in need.
“His compassion, devotion, and non-judgmental approach to helping the marginalised was unwavering.
“He was an inspiring and humble man who I always enjoyed meeting. He was a proud Cork man who never lost touch with the home place that nurtured him in his early years.”
Br Kevin was born at Kilcoleman, Enniskeane, Co Cork on February 24, 1935. Baptised William Crowley, he entered the Capuchin Postulancy in Kilkenny on Easter Monday, April 7, 1958.
On 9 October 1958 he was admitted to the Capuchin Novitiate in Rochestown, Co Cork, where he received the name Kevin; and made his temporary profession in November 1959 and his perpetual profession in November 1962.
Over his first five years, he served as cook in St Bonaventure’s, Church Street and Raheny in Dublin. His kitchen apostolate was interrupted between 1964 and 1967 when he was appointed Brother Master of Novices in Rochestown.
He also served as Quester in Ards friary, Co. Donegal, for some months in 1967/68.
In 1968, he was asked to take charge of the Clothing Guild in Church Street. He quickly realised that much more was required than a clothing distribution unit, so he set up the St Felix soup kitchen and Day Centre, which initially catered for up to sixty persons daily.
Then, between 1988 and 2001 he served for three years as Guardian in Holy Trinity friary in Cork, followed by a further three years in the same role in Raheny, culminating with a stint of seven years as Guardian in Ards friary in Donegal.
At the Provincial Chapter of 1991, Br Kevin was elected to the Provincial Council and was transferred to Church Street, where he was appointed Director of the Father Mathew Hall.
He continued in that role up to 1994, while also serving as Vicar in Halston Street. On August 20, 2001, he returned as Director of the St Felix Day Centre and went to live in Church Street.
Since he had last worked in the Day Centre in 1988, it had been ably managed by Brs Luke Hickey and Des McNaboe, but for Br Kevin it was his homecoming to “The House of Bread”.
In the same year that he visited the day centre, addressing the Capuchins from around the world gathered for their General Chapter in Rome, Pope Francis spoke to them about his visit in Dublin.
“Recently in Ireland, I saw your work with the most discarded and I was moved. It is a beautiful thing that … the elderly founder told me, ‘Here we do not ask where you come from, who you are: you are a child of God.’ This is one of your traits. To really understand the persons, by ‘smell’, unconditionally. Come in, then we will see. As Capuchins, closeness is your charism. Preserve it,” Pope Francis said.
In 2022, Br Kevin retired from the Day Centre and the needy whom he had served over a lifetime and returned to his native Cork. He died on July 2, 2025 at Mount Desert Nursing Home in Cork.
In many ways Kevin Crowley, personified the Risen Christ, to those on the periphery of our society. The periphery was where Jesus was most present, in his short time as he walked among us.
The thought recently struck me, that the risen Christ, who remains present to every generation in a new and refreshing way, would have much to speak and challenge regarding inequality, injustice and prejudice in our present society.
Jesus in 2022 I am sure would not be found wanting in rolling up his sleeves and embracing the most wounded in our society.
Brother Kevin lived a very practical spirituality grounded in the gospel and inspiration from the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. A prophet is grounded and yet courageous in witnessing the good news.
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