Denis Edward O'Brien was born in Dallas, Texas, on October 8, 1923, son of Richard and Rose McGilligan O'Brien. Two of his uncles (brothers of his father) were priests in West Texas in the early 1900s.  His one brother, Richard, died in December 2000.  He attended Our Lady of Good Counsel School and graduated from W. H. Adamson High School both in Dallas.  After graduation in 1941, he attended one year of College at St. John's Seminary in Little Rock, Arkansas, studying for the Diocese of Dallas.  However, on November 14, 1942 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and as a Sergeant served in the Peleliu Island landing in the South Pacific and in the Okinawa landing and occupation. He was honorably discharged on November 23, 1945 and entered Maryknoll Apostolic College (Venard), Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, on January 3, 1946. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and his Master of Divinity degree at Maryknoll Seminary, Ossining, where he was ordained a priest on June 13, 1953.

Father Denis O'Brien died of cancer in Dallas, Texas on  August 29, 2002 . He was 78 years old and a Maryknoll priest for 49 years.

After ordination, Father O'Brien was assigned to the Maryknoll Mission in Musoma, Tanganyika, East Africa.   For health reasons in 1957, he was recalled to the United States and assigned to the Maryknoll Promotion House in Houston, Texas.  After 2 years there, on June 14, 1959 he was assigned to the Maryknoll Mission in Mexico, where he had a long and fruitful mission career in Mayan villages of the Yucatan, in Mérida and Mexico City. In Mexico City he served as the national advisor to the Episcopal Conference for their pro-life campaign.  Father O'Brien was the founder of Pastoral del Amor, an organization that serves children with mild mental mental handicaps who study Christian doctrine. He also sponsored a day-care center for profoundly affected children and a hospice for those that are incurable and abandoned.

During home furlough in 1966 Father O'Brien earned a Certificate in Theology of Papal Social Encyclicals at Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois.  Upon his return to Mexico, he served as Director of the Cursillo Movement of the Maryknoll Mexico Region from 1968 to 1971.  As Chapter Delegate from Mexico he participated in the 1972 Maryknoll General Chapter at Maryknoll Center in New York.

In 1988 Father O'Brien returned to the United States and was treated for cancer. During his recuperation period he became a “Priest in Residence” St. Pius X Parish in Dallas, Texas in September, 1988.  In addition to his busy pastoral ministry of Masses, confessions, baptisms, hospital visits, Father O’Brien served as Chaplain to the Knights of Columbus Council 799, National Chaplain to the First Marine Division Association and local Chaplain to its Dallas Chapter, National Spiritual Director to the American Life League and worked tirelessly to protect human life.

Father O'Brien is survived by: his sister-in-law, Virginia O'Brien; his niece Bridget Crissey and husband Howard; nephews Shannon and Sean O’Brien; great-nieces and nephews Ryan Crissey and his wife Micah, Kimberly Crissey Underwood and husband Dave, Kate Crissey, Rory Crissey, Brittany O’Brien, Blake O’Brien, and Holly O’Brien; numerous cousins in the U.S. and Ireland.

Wake and funeral services will be held at St. Pius X Church in Dallas, Texas.  Rosary vigil will be held on Tuesday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m.   Mass of Christian Burial will be concelebrated  on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. with Bishop Charles Grahmann as Principal Celebrant and homilist.   Burial will follow at Calvary Hill Diocesan cemetery priest's plot.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Maryknoll for the purpose of supporting Fr. O’Brien’s home for SPECIAL children in Mexico.  

To view writings of Fr. O'Brien, click here.

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