CONNOLLY, OFM, CAP., BRO. DAVID August 2, 1947 - January 21, 2021 At St. Joseph Hospice, London, ON, Thursday evening, January 21, 2021, after a lengthy illness with cancer. Bro. David was predeceased by his parents, Gerard and Frances (Hamlyn) Connolly, his sister Paula and his brother John Paul. He is survived by his brother James Connolly, brother-in-law, Dave Fairman and sister-in-law, Mary Theresa Connolly as well as aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews and many cousins. David first encountered the Capuchins as a young Grade 10 student attending their Mount Alverno Minor Seminary where he came from his hometown of Lindsay, ON. On August 12, 1965, David was invested into the Capuchin Postulancy program and on August 10, 1973 made his Solemn Profession as a Capuchin Friar and took the name "Brendan". Bro. David initially became a Registered Nurse through Humber College where he graduated in 1971. He later went to McMaster University (Hamilton) to become a Family Nurse Practitioner graduating in 1973. For the next 25 years, Bro. David worked as a Lay Brother in a variety of medical settings in Toronto, Guelph and Winnipeg. In the early 1980's, Bro. David began his Theological Studies for the Priesthood being ordained on the November 11, 1990. He began his early Priestly ministry as an Associate Pastor at St. Philip Neri Parish in Toronto and later as Pastor and Guardian at St. Mary's Parish in Blenheim, ON. In 1995, he became the Guardian of St. Anthony Friary and Administrator of St. Francis Table. His next ministries were as Chaplain and Spiritual Director at the Mount Alverno Retreat Centre in Orangeville. While doing this he was also co-leader of the Franciscan Internship Program along with Bro. Ignatius Feaver for about 10 years. In 2007, Bro. David was elected as a Councilor to the Provincial Council and later served as Minister Provincial from 2010-2016. From 2019 until his death. Bro. David served as Vicar Provincial to the Province of the Capuchins of Central Canada. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Capuchin Foundation through the Capuchin website,
www.capuchin.ca/you-can-help Respecting current provincial restrictions, both funeral mass and interment will be private. There is a limited public visitation on Tuesday, January 26th, at St. Philip Neri Parish, 2100 Jane Street, North York, from 2 to 7 p.m. To visit, YOU MUST REGISTER at
www.wardfuneralhomes.com Livestream is available for the visitation on Tuesday, January 26th, at
https://www.stphilipneri.ca/wartchmasslive/ Funeral mass at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 27th, may be viewed at
http://www.standrewtheapostle.ca/. Click the YouTube tab for livestream
Published by Toronto Star on Jan. 25, 2021.