Fr. Ned Murphy, SJ, SC Associate,
POTS Co-Founder ~ April 4, 2012

How does one share the gifts of Ned Murphy, SJ, gifts he shared so generously with the poor of every type who needed his assistance, especially those who through their shame hid their needs from us?

Born the youngest of a family with fierce Irish roots and deeply committed to the Irish revolution, Ned became steeped in peacemaking and nonviolence
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From his earliest days as a Jesuit, he opened his mind and heart to learning the causes of every kind of oppression that led to poverty, violence, and war. His resistance and civil disobedience with respect to the Vietnam War and the nuclear arms race led him to live with and serve those living in poverty. For Ned there was no “us and them.”

His days at Covenant House brought him face to face with young men who lived on and sold themselves on the streets. He instinctively knew they needed a place to belong. As a result, the house on Bedford Park Boulevard and POTS began. Ned drew countless groups into a community of service. So many benefitted from his mantra “Let us live in the unconditional love of God.”

Ned understood how fragile and vulnerable we all are as he learned from those he served how, together, we can truly be people of peace.

Rest well, Ned.

Sr. Jane Iannucelli, SC
April 5, 2012