Fr. Bruce was born in Eltham, Taranaki and was educated at St. Joseph’s Convent School in Elthani by Our Lady of the Mission Sisters. After attending Stratford High School, he worked for a time in Yarrow’s Bakery in Manaia, Taranaki. In 1972, he entered Holy Name Seminary in Christchurch after discerning a vocation to priesthood and later moved on to Holy Cross College, Mosgiel to complete his studies.
Father Bruce was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Reginald Delargey in 1978 and having been
resident as a Deacon in the Parish of St. Anne’s, Newtown, he was called upon to continue as Assistant Priest. His ministry extended to Calvary Hospital and Hospice as Chaplain. He was also assigned to work with the Wellington Engaged Couples’ courses.
In 1981, Father Bruce was appointed by Archbishop Thomas Williams to St Patrick’s in Paraparaumu where he spent five years and fell in love with the Kapiti Coast. In 1986, he was transferred to St. Joseph’s in Upper Hutt for a relatively short eighteen month period when a Parish Priest position became vacant inthe Parish of St Francis of Assisi in Stoke, Nelson where he remained until the beginning of 1995. It was in the Nelson district that Father Bruce became involved in ministering to the ‘Belmont House’ programme for recovering alcoholics and drug addiction. As a result of that, an interest developed in psychotherapy and counseling which has continued to the present.
The Kapiti Coast/Horowhenua beckoned Father Bruce back and he commenced an enjoyable seven-year period as Parish Priest in St. Joseph’s, Levin. His Patron and Confirmation saint is St Francis of Assisi, but it appears that St. Joseph has been an influence throughout his priestly ministry, having been ordained in St. Joseph’s, Eltham and spending time in two parishes under the patronage of St. Joseph.
It was in Levin that Father Bruce fostered a deep interest in ecumenism and became involved in ‘Alpha ‘(an outreach programme to those searching for a deeper understanding of the Christian Faith), as an adviser to the Kapiti/I{orowhenua region and to the Catholic parishes of the Archdiocese. Father Bruce was elected to the position of Chair to the Horowhenua Minister’s Association.
In 1995, Cardinal Thomas Williams appointed Father Bruce back to the Parish of St. Patrick’s in
Paraparaumu where he continued his involvement in ‘Alpha’, along with his normal parish ministry. A key component of his ministry in Paraparaumu was his involvement in ‘Jesus4Real’ — a youth programme designed to challenge teenagers to form a deeper meaningful relationship with Jesus.
Archbishop John Dew appointed Father Bruce to Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Lower Hutt as Parish Priest in the year of Father Bruce’s 3O~~ anniversary in priesthood and this is where new challenges are presenting themselves as he integrates his continued vision for unity and Catholic formation and evangelization.
Father Bruce has served on a number of Archdiocesan committees and is currently a member of the Council of Priests and the Protocol Committee.
External to his pastoral ministry, Father Bruce has a diverse range of social interests which include reading, a passion for music, keeping fit through walking and cycling, film and theatre, travel and last, but not least Citroen motor cars.