Dr. Mc Bride was born in a farm house on the 12th of March 1903 in Beagh, Killavoggy, Co. Leitrim, about 5 miles outside of Dromahair and Drumkeeran. He attended the local Killavoggy National School for his primary education. On the death of his mother, John (aged 7), his sister's and brother's (Mary Bridget, Nora, Katie, Maggie, Patrick, Tom and Joe) were raised by their father Thomas Mc Bride.

One day the local priests horse and trap failed to arrive for mass, John was worried as he was a mass server, a stranger came into the sacristy, he was dressed in a long brown habit. John not knowing he was a priest, as he had never seen a priest dressed like this before asked the stranger, "could he say mass"?. The stranger who was a Franciscan priest replied to the boy, "that he would try". He said mass and afterwards he asked if any of the mass servers would like to become priests?. John replied "yes" and that became the first step of what was to become a religious and eventful life for John.

The next step came when he was 14, he went to study in the Seraphic College in Multyfarnham, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. From his early days as a student he showed signs of an intellect well above average. He spent a year in the Franciscan novitiate in Killarney after which he received the Franciscan Habit and his religious profession, then he went to St. Anthony's College in Louvain, Belgium. He obtained his Doctorate in Philosophy there, before going to St. Isidore's College in Rome where he became a Doctor of Divinity of the Roman Gregoriana , after which he was ordained in 1927. Having been ordained, he returned to Ireland. As a young priest he filled the important role as Provincial Secretary. This he combined with his pastoral work for the Friary. The superiors and guardians were quick to recognise his administrative ability and so he was elected Provincial of the Franciscan order of Ireland in 1942. He was re-elected in 1945 and 1948, giving him the unique distinction of serving as Provincial for 3 consecutive terms. In 1945 Dr. Mc Bride opened the Franciscan house of studies in Killiney, Co. Dublin and in 1946 he organised the return of the friars to Co. Donegal with the foundation of Rossnowlagh.

The Irish Franciscan's had in 1879 set up the 1st Community in Australia and by the 31st of October 1939 the number of houses had increased to 8 including 1 house in New Zealand. Contact between Australia and Rome was broken due to World War II. At this time Ireland proved itself an invaluable link maintaing communication until the link between Australia and Rome could be re-established in 1948.

At the end of World War II the Irish Franciscan Community in China was in a very poor state. Dr. Mc Bride sent out new Missionaries to maintain their missionary stations, giving those who had been under house arrest a holiday at home in Ireland, but the Missionaries were forced to leave China in 1948 by Communist armies leaving behind some Chinese Friars.