Father Jim O’Brien’s remains will be received into St Vincent De Paul Church, Hull, at 7pm on Thursday (May 22), with the dean, Canon David Grant, as principal celebrant.
His Requiem Mass will be at noon on Friday (May 23) at St Vincent De Paul Church. He will then be cremated privately in Hull, and his ashes will be taken by his family to Scotland, where they will be buried in the family grave.
Father Jim had suffered health issues in recent years but embraced that cross in a gentle and humble way.
Following further health problems, he was admitted to the Royal Infirmary in Hull, where he died peacefully on the morning of Thursday May 1.
Father Jim was born on May 19 1950 in Clydebank, Glasgow, and studied for the priesthood with the Columban Fathers in Dalgin Park, Ireland, from 1971 to 1975.
He then took a break and returned to complete his studies at Ushaw College, Durham, from 1987 to 1989. He was ordained to the priesthood at Our Holy Redeemer Parish, Clydebank, on June 21 1989.
He arrived in the Diocese of Middlesbrough after his ordination and his first appointment was as assistant priest at Sacred Heart Church, Middlesbrough.
In 1990 he was asked by Bishop John to take on further studies in Rome and at Sheffield University.
In 1992, he was asked to serve as Professor of Scripture at Ushaw College, Durham until 1996, when he was appointed parish priest of St Mary & St Joseph’s, Pocklington, where he served for four years. He then moved to be chaplain for Hull University from 2000 until 2017.
In 2010, alongside his chaplaincy work at the university, he was also appointed parish priest of St Vincent de Paul, Hull, where he served until his retirement.
Please pray for the repose of Father Jim’s soul and for his sister and his family and friends at this time.