Profile: Father John Brosnan, former Chaplain

Father John Brosnan’s impact on the former Pentridge Prison community and beyond is a testament to his unwavering compassion and advocacy. Serving as the Catholic chaplain to HM Prison Pentridge for an impressive 30 years, he was dedicated to serving those often forgotten by society and left an indelible mark on the lives he touched.

A Jesuit Priest, Fr John had a profound sense of the value of human dignity. A long-time opponent of capital punishment, his campaign to spare convicted murderer Ronald Ryan from being hanged in 1967 made national headlines. Although his campaign failed, Fr John is credited with helping end capital punishment in Australia.

Cover Image: Fr John Brosnan (Right) with Peter Norden AO who succeeded Fr John as Chaplain.

Born in 1919, in Keilambete, Western Victoria, John Brosnan grew up in Cudgee near Warrnambool. He boarded at Assumption College, Kilmore, where he developed his other great passion – that being the Geelong Football Club, becoming a lifelong supporter.

Ordained as a priest at the age of twenty-six in 1945 by Archbishop Mannix, Fr John first worked in an orphanage in Geelong before returning to Melbourne to minister in the inner-city, and his journey then led him to Pentridge Prison in 1956.

When Fr John arrived at Pentridge Prison as chaplain aged just thirty-five, he was astonished and disturbed to find so many of his former junior football players from the inner-city parishes and from the orphanage at Geelong serving time. Fr John often spoke about ‘kids’ futures being written on their faces before they were born.’

Fr John spent thirty years ministering to those on the other side of Pentridge Prison’s bluestone walls. His approach to his work was characterised by unwavering compassion and non-judgmental acceptance. He saw beyond the crimes that had brought these individuals to prison and recognised their inherent humanity. In an interview, one former inmate recalled, “He treated everyone with respect. He treated us like human beings.”

While at Pentridge, Fr John developed the reputation of being ‘The Knockabout Priest’ but was someone who walked with a dignified presence through the corridors of one of the most notorious prisons in Australian history.

Within the confines of the prison, Fr John became more than just a chaplain; he was a friend and confidant to many. His presence brought comfort to those facing the isolation and despair of incarceration. He offered a listening ear, words of encouragement, and a sense of belonging to those who had lost hope. During his time as chaplain, he advised and counselled thousands of inmates in their prison cells.

Fr John provided a lifeline for inmates by offering them a means to connect with their loved ones through the chaplain’s office phone. He even paid the school fees of some of the inmates’ children.

Fr John’s pivotal moment came when he read Ronald Ryan his last rites before Ryan became the last man to be hanged in Australia in 1967. Despite his unsuccessful campaign to save Ryan’s life, Fr John’s efforts played a significant role in the eventual abolition of capital punishment in Australia.

In 1977, Fr John co-founded the Brosnan Center, an organisation aimed at supporting young people who’ve been to prison to cope with life after their release.

Fr John died in March 2003, and at his death, tributes flowed from all parts of society – highlighting his ability to mix as an equal with everyone from cabinet ministers to inmates.

Fr John was given a state funeral at St Patrick’s Cathedral – an honour normally reserved for the likes of former politicians and people of national significance – and was attended by hundreds of mourners, a testament to the profound impact he had made.

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The former Chaplain’s office, where Fr John worked and ministered, can be seen as part of Pentridge Prison Tours B-Division tours. Book your tour here.