After his ordination at St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne on 24 July 1960, Fr Bob was appointed temporarily as Assistant Priest at Belgrave Parish and Heidelberg Parish (1961). Fr Bob was then appointed to the following parishes: Assistant Priest, Ashburton (1962); Braybrook (1966); Kew East (1966); Ivanhoe (1969).
In 1970 Fr Bob was appointed the Assistant Priest for Seymour Parish and Chaplain for the Catholic Military Vicariate of Australia.
In 1973 Fr Bob was appointed Parish Priest of St Peter & Paul’s Parish, South Melbourne until his retirement in 2012 when he was appointed Pastor Emeritus.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 for service to homeless youth.
In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for long service to the congregation of Sts Peter and Paul’s Church and the local community.
Fr Bob launched the Father Bob Maguire Foundation in 2003 to provide food relief, social inclusion and educational support services.
In 2011, Fr Bob was named Victorian of the Year
Fr Bob was a man who was held in deep admiration for the many gifts he so generously shared throughout his long and dedicated service to the dispossessed, the homeless, street kids and those battling on the margins.
He passed away at Cabrini Hospital, Malvern on 19 April 2023 aged 88 years.
The Archdiocese is most grateful to Fr Bob for his untiring service to the Church of Melbourne, especially through his prophetic presence and love for the poor.
May he rest in peace.
Priests’ Retirement Foundation.
‘Caring for those who cared’.
First published Herald Sun, April 22, p.63.
. Fr Bob was then appointed to the following parishes: Assistant Priest, Ashburton (1962); Braybrook (1966); Kew East (1966); Ivanhoe (1969).){kind=link}