May Brother Christopher Rest in Peace

 

Br. Christopher O’Brien was born James Patrick O’Brien on November 10, 1939, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania to Joseph O’Brien and Mary Cullen of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, he was a proud graduate of Msgr Bonner High school in Drexel Hill. In 1957, he entered the Abbey as a Trappist lay brother postulant directly out of high school, receiving the name Brother Christopher. He pronounced his solemn vows as a lay brother in 1965.

Over the years Christopher lived the life of a dedicated lay brother, working tirelessly at many and various jobs: landscaper and groundskeeper, cook, overall maintenance, special occasions coordinator, liaison for contractors, gift shop buyer, and at Trappist Preserves, the abbey's jams and jellies industry.

Brother Christopher was predeceased by his brothers John and Joseph, and his sisters Gertrude, Mary, Helen, and Sheila. In addition to his religious brothers at the abbey, he leaves his sisters Cecilia and Margaret, his devoted nephews, Joe, Eric, and Derek, and their families, as well as numerous friends from his many years in contact with contractors for the abbey who, through brother's warmth and his welcoming hospitality, became his dear friends. With gratitude for the beautiful gift of his presence among us, the brothers commend brother Christopher’s soul to your prayers.