Obituary of Rev. Kevin Michael Barry

       After a life well-lived and served during 65 years of priestly ministry, the family of Rev. Kevin Michael Barry announces the peaceful passing of its ‘Family Priest’ on Friday, Sept. 27 at the age of 91.

      Born on July 7, 1933, in Saint John, he was the youngest and last surviving child of the late P. Esmonde and Eileen E. (Horgan) Barry.

      Father Barry graduated from St. Vincent's High School in 1950 and attended St. Thomas University (Chatham) where he graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He pursued Theological Studies at Holy Heart Seminary in Halifax, N.S. and was ordained on May 17, 1959, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by the Most Reverend Alfred B. Leverman, Bishop of Saint John.

       Following his ordination, he served as Parochial Vicar from 1959-68 at St. Dunstan’s Parish in Fredericton. He spent a year of study at the Divine Word International Centre of Religious Education in London ON., before an appointment as director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Saint John by Most Rev. Joseph N. MacNeil, a position he held from 1969-78. During that period, he undertook weekend ministry (1974-78) at St. George’s Parish in Charlotte County while serving as the diocese’s Director of Communications.

       Most. Rev. Arthur J. Gilbert canonically erected the Parish of St. Mark's in 1978 and Father Barry became the first pastor of the newly constructed St. Mark’s Catholic Church. In 1989, he assumed pastoral duties at St. Alphonsus in Hampton, St. Anthony’s in Upham. He remained at St. Alphonsus until his retirement in September 2018.

      He held numerous other appointments: in May 1980, he was elected to the executive of the Religious Advisory Committee of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), serving a two-year term as vice-chairman for Eastern Canada. In June 1988, he was elected to a three-year term as Vice-President (Atlantic Region) for the Association of Roman Catholic Communicators in Canada at its annual conference in Edmonton, AB. He held five-year terms on two occasions – 2000-05 and 2010-15 – with the College of Consultors and served several terms on the Presbyterial Council and Diocesan Liturgy Commission. A third-degree Knight of Columbus, Council 6766 (Rothesay), Father Barry spent many years with the New Freeman as its Editorial Advisor where he penned a weekly column.

       His visits for family suppers and other occasions were special times. There, he was simply ‘Father Kevin’ to his nieces and nephews, whose wide smiles were full of joy when he played the harmonica or entertained them by pulling quarters out of their ears with sleight-of-hand expertise.

     New River Beach had an allure to him as did his Davis Lane cottage at Pocologan where he spent the better part of 50 summers tuning into Boston Red Sox baseball games. An avid sports fan, a hint of satisfaction was evident during times when he watched the Bosox, the Boston Bruins and the New England Patriots win championships. He too, scratched an athletic itch as a youth, be it in hockey, baseball, rugby or track and field.

      Father Barry is survived by many nephews and nieces - Dr. Brian Barry (Elizabeth) of Kanata, ON., Katherine Cotton (the late Peter) of Toronto, Jane Frank (the late Stanley) of Gloucester, ON., Ellen Sargent (the late Gary) of Saint John, Ronald Barry (Doreen) of Quispamsis, Eileen Keating of Saint John, Gregory Barry (Lynn) of Lance, N.S., Captain Denis Barry (Susan) of Rothesay, Joseph Barry (Tara) of Quispamsis, Christopher Barry (Carole) of Rothesay, Dr. Susan Bianchi (Jerry) of Toronto, Elizabeth Byrne-Zwicker (Malcolm) of Islandview, John Byrne (Lisa) of Saint John, Monica Byrne (Kamal Howeizi) of Saint John, Sean Barry (Salina) of Regina, SK., Michael Barry (Sharon) of London, ON., Noelle McHugh (the late Gerry) of Woodstock, Timothy Barry of Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON., several great and great-great nephews, nieces and many cousins.

       Besides his parents, he was predeceased by brother J. Esmonde Barry and his wife Maureen (Strang), sister M. Therese and her husband J. George Byrne Sr., sister M. Patricia Barry, brother Gerard A. Barry and his wife Irene (McCarthy); nieces Linda M. Barry-Hollowell and Mary Anne Byrne; and nephews Kevin P. Barry, George J. Byrne Jr., Patrick J. Byrne and Anthony J. (Tony) Barry.

        Father Barry’s family expresses their gratitude and thanks to the Shannex’s Parkland in the Valley staff at Embassy Hall for its care and compassion as well as his good friend, David Palmer.

       Visitation will be held at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, (506-634-742) on Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m. Following visitation, Father Barry will lie in state at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where Vesper will be held at 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be offered on Friday, October 4^th at 12:10 p.m. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery where he will be laid to rest with his parents and sister Patricia Barry.

      In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.