The small, founding colony of monks at Mount St Bernard was originally led by Father Odilo Woolfrey, who also assumed the duties of parish priest for the neighbouring Catholic churches of Grace Dieu and Whitwick. Odilo's brother, Father Norbert Woolfrey came to St Bernard's and acted for a while as parish priest at Loughborough. Both brothers later embarked on missionary work in Australia. Odilo Woolfrey died on 31 March 1856 and is buried with his brother Norbert, in the churchyard of St Thomas Becket's, Lewisham, New South Wales.