Australian Saint Columban missionary Father Brian Gore, widely regarded as ‘poor man’s priest,’ died on Easter Sunday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. at Holy Mother of Mercy Hospital in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
He was 81.
The Columban Missionaries in the Philippines confirmed his passing in an official statement. No further details have been provided regarding the priest’s health condition prior to his death.
Gore co-founded the Negros Nine Human Development Foundation (NNHDF), more widely known as “Negros Nine.” Authorities arrested him, along with two other priests and six lay leaders, in 1983 during the Marcos dictatorship on trumped-up murder charges.
However, the court dismissed the case in 1984 due to lack of evidence.
In 2000, during the Great Jubilee Year, Gore and his companions established the NNHDF to continue their work for justice and human development—advocacy rooted in the struggles they endured under Martial Law.
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza honored Gore for being instrumental in his priestly journey.
“Rest in peace, Fr. Brian – grateful for your accompaniment from the day I took the entrance to the Seminary, to my first summer pastoral assignment in Oringao with Fr. Rolex, and many other occasions since then,” the bishop wrote in a Facebook post.
The bishop added, “I feel Fr. Brian shall continue to accompany us now that he has gone beyond!”
6th District Representative Mercedes K. Alvarez also paid tribute to the late missionary.
She told Brigada News FM Philippines that Gore dedicated his life to service through the Columban Mission, impacting countless lives, especially among the weavers and the broader communities in southern Negros.
“His unwavering commitment to faith, social justice, and the marginalized has left an indelible mark on all who knew him,” she said.
Para sa bayan
Kenneth Bacala, chief executive office (CEO) of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island Inc. (HBONI), also mourned Gore’s passing.
He recalled how Gore welcomed their organization in its early days.
In December 2018, Gore opened the doors of the San Columbano Retreat House in Himamaylan City to HBONI for training, outreach, and community gatherings.
“Fr. Gore’s loss is heartbreaking. He stood with us when HBONI was just starting. We considered San Columbano Retreat House our home because of him,” Bacala said.
“Fr. Gore truly lived his purpose and fulfilled his mission to the people,” he added.
As of press time, the family and Columban community have not yet announced the schedule for the visitation and interment of Gore’s remains.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.