BRISBANE priest Fr Ian Wren has died after a long illness and will be remembered at a Funeral Mass tomorrow, February 23, at St Stephen’s Cathedral.
Fr Wren died at the Wesley Hospital on Monday, February 12.
He was born on January 20, 1942, in Brisbane to Andrew and Catherine Eva Wren (nee Lebler).
He has two sisters, Joan Mary Kent and Maureen Catherine Murphy.
Fr Wren was educated locally.
In his primary years, he attended Christ the King school, Graceville, and St Joseph’s school, Corina, and went to St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace for secondary education.
He later credited the Presentation Sisters and the Christian Brothers for their influence on his priestly vocation, but he put the thoughts of the vocation to the back of his mind.
Instead, he went on to become a teacher and librarian.
His 20-year career in education took him from Boonah to Mt Isa, Cloncurry to Southport.
He discerned the priestly vocation at St Paul’s Seminary in Kensington, Sydney.
Fr Ian’s first appointment in Brisbane began in February 1989 as a Deacon at St Kieran’s Parish, Brighton.
He remained there until he was ordained a priest on July 22, 1989.
His first appointment as a priest was in Grovely and he went on to serve in Caboolture and Birkdale.
Fr Wren was then appointed parish priest of Upper Mt Gravatt where he stayed until he retired in 2015.
He also served as the archbishop’s secretary and was vocations director from 2004 to 2009, while serving as an associate priest at St Stephen’s Cathedral.
His Funeral Mass will be held at 10am in St Stephen’s Cathedral, you can access the livestream here closer to the time: brisbanecatholic.org.au/multimedia/web-cast/
