Msgr. Laurence O’Brien, 82; Pastor Emeritus in Glendale

The Rev. Msgr. Laurence O’Brien, pastor emeritus of Glendale’s Incarnation Church, has died. he was 82.

O’Brien died Saturday at the St. John of God Nursing Home in Los Angeles, according to Father Gregory Coiro, spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Born Sept. 23, 1915, in Winnipeg, Canada, O’Brien grew up in Los Angeles, where he attended St. Brendan’s School and the Los Angeles Junior Seminary. He studied at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park and completed his studies in Camarillo.

O’Brien was ordained by Archbishop John J. Cantwell at St. Vibiana’s Cathedral in 1943 and assigned to Culver City’s St. Augustine parish as an associate pastor. He served at numerous other parishes, including St. John’s in Hyde Park, St. Anthony’s in San Gabriel and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Newport Beach.

In 1963, Cardinal James Francis McIntyre appointed O’Brien to his first pastorate, St. Euphrasia Church in Granada Hills, where he served for more than nine years.

In 1972, O’Brien became pastor of Incarnation Church. His accomplishments included changing the High Altar and service rituals to conform to new regulations handed down by the Vatican II council, as well as numerous aesthetic changes.

In 1983, he was named a monsignor by Pope John Paul II.

Three years later, he retired from Incarnation and became pastor emeritus. He lived at the St. John of God Nursing Home until his death.

He is survived by two sisters, Sheila O’Brien and Mary Beatrice O’Brien, and a brother, Frank O’Brien.

A memorial was held Tuesday. A funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. today at Incarnation Church, 1001 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, with burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.