Father Chris Riley dies at 70: Australian priest founded youth homeless ministry

CNA Newsroom, Aug 5, 2025 / 10:50 am

Australians are paying tribute to a prominent priest who passionately cared for vulnerable young people. For decades, Father Chris Riley transformed thousands of lives through his Youth Off The Streets project. He died Aug. 1 at age 70 after a prolonged illness.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led national tributes to the Salesian father in a statement posted on X.

“Father Chris Riley had a heart as big as the country he served. He gave hope to young people doing it tough and never gave up on anyone. He was a good friend and his legacy will live on in the lives he changed,” the prime minister said.

Christopher Keith Riley was born Nov. 24, 1954, in rural Victoria and ordained as a Salesian priest in 1982 after growing up on a dairy farm, The Catholic Weekly reported.

His life’s work began in 1991 when he established Youth Off The Streets with a single food van serving homeless youth in Sydney’s inner-city Kings Cross area.

Under Riley’s leadership for nearly three decades, the effort expanded from its modest beginnings into a comprehensive organization employing over 220 staff and operating more than 30 programs across New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. 

The organization now serves approximately 1,600 homeless youth annually, according to a media release from Youth Off The Streets.

NSW Premier Chris Minns in a statement expressed profound sadness at Riley’s death, describing him as a visionary whose work proved “that with compassion and opportunity, young lives can be transformed.”

Minns noted how the Salesian transformed “a single food van in Kings Cross into a lifesaving network of crisis accommodation, counseling, and other wraparound support services.”

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman (Liberal Party) praised Riley as “a quiet giant” who provided “tens of thousands of young people a sanctuary and a second chance,” CathNews reported.

The bipartisan recognition reflects Riley’s widespread respect across Australia’s political spectrum.

Anne Fitzgerald, chairperson of Youth Off The Streets’ board, remembered Riley as “a tireless advocate for homeless and disadvantaged youth” who “inspired and changed thousands of young lives.”

She emphasized the priest’s “compassion, tenacity, and unwavering belief that every young person deserves the chance to reach their full potential.”

Australian society recognized the Catholic priest’s work with multiple honors: The government appointed him a member of the Order of Australia in 2006 for service to disadvantaged youth. That same year, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission awarded him the Human Rights Medal.

Riley stepped down from active leadership in 2022 as his health declined but remained connected to the organization he founded. His death marks the end of an era for youth services in Australia, though his organization continues the work he began more than three decades ago.

Judy Barraclough, current CEO of Youth Off The Streets, in the organization’s statement said Riley’s “dedication to supporting and empowering young Australians in need has left a powerful legacy.”

His “vision, drive, and determination will continue to inspire our organization,” she added.