Kevin Thomas Kenney (born December 29, 1959) is an American bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. Currently an auxiliary bishop for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Kenney was born and raised in Minneapolis and attended DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis College of Saint Thomas in St. Paul. After spending time as a Claretian, Kenney was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on May 28, 1994. He was named an auxiliary bishop on July 25, 2024 and consecrated on October 28, 2024.
Kevin Thomas Kenney | |
|---|---|
| Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Titular Bishop of Cunavia | |
 Kenney at his episcopal consecration | |
| Archdiocese | Saint Paul and Minneapolis |
| Appointed | July 25, 2024 |
| Installed | October 28, 2024 |
| Other post(s) | Titular Bishop of Cunavia |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 28, 1994 by John Roach |
| Consecration | October 28, 2024 by Bernard Hebda, Peter F. Christensen, and James R. Golka |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 29, 1959 |
| Alma mater | |
| Motto | The Love of Christ Impels Us |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Kevin Thomas Kenney | |
|---|---|
Azure, three pallets wavy Argent, overall to dexter the Tower of Saint Kevin Or and to sinister a Greek Celtic cross Or, charged at the center with a dove overt Argent; on a chief Or flanked to dexter by a Rose Gules, barbed and seeded Proper, and to sinister by a sheaf of wheat Or and a bunch of grapes, Purpure, leaved Vert together, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Gules, crowned and wounded Proper, enflamed Or. The shield ensigned with an episcopal cross Or behind the shield and a bishop’s galero Vert cords and twelve tassels disposed in three rows of one, two and three all Vert. On a scroll below the shield the motto: "The Love of Christ Impels Us".[1] | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Biography
editEarly life
editKenney was born on December 29, 1959 to William and Dorothy Kenney and is the fifth of eight children.[2] He attended DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, where he graduated from in 1978.[2] He received a received a bachelor's degree in business administration and Spanish from the College of Saint Thomas in St. Paul. Through his time in high school and college he worked numerous odd jobs, including paper carrier, janitor, dishwasher, and drink vendor at the Metrodome.[1]
After his college graduation, he moved to Chicago to work with the Claretians as a lay volunteer.[2] After two years, he was hired as the program director.[2] After another two years, he entered formation with the Claretians and began to attend Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he received a Master of Divinity.[2][3] After five years of formation with the Claretians, he left the community and applied as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, where he attended Saint Paul Seminary.[2] He was ordained a priest by Archbishop John Roach on May 28, 1994.[3]
Priesthood
editAs a priest, Kenney served as parochial vicar at Saint Olaf in Minneapolis from 1994 to 1998, as pastor of Our Lady of Peace in Minneapolis from 1998 to 2004, as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Saint Paul from 2004 to 2015, and as pastor of both Saint Michael in Kenyon and Divine Mercy in Faribault from 2015 to 2019, before his assignment as pastor of Saint Olaf in downtown Minneapolis in 2019.[3] During the trial of Derek Chauvin, Kenney led a prayer service each morning calling for healing and peace.[4]
Fluent in Spanish, he served as the archdiocese's Vicar for Latino Ministry from 2010 to 2018.[1] He has also served as an adjunct professor of theology at the University of Saint Thomas.[2]
Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
editOn July 25, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Kenney as Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and Titular Bishop of Cunavia.[3][2] Upon receiving the call from the apostolic nuncio, Christophe Pierre, Kenney was initially hesitant as at 64 years old he was already considering retirement opportunities. However, after reflecting on the daily readings of the week, he responded that he would accept.[5]
He was consecrated a bishop on October 28, 2024 by Bernard Hebda, with Peter F. Christensen and James R. Golka as principal co-consecrators.[1] Golka and Christensen had been seminary classmates of Kenney.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "The Episcopal Ordination of the Reverent Kevin Thomas Kenney" (Document). Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Print Services. October 28, 2024. Available online
- ^ a b c d e f g h Ruff, Joe (July 25, 2024). "Pope Francis names Father Kenney as auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis". The Catholic Spirit. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Resignations and Appointments, 25.07.2024". Vatican Press Bulletin. Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ "St. Olaf Catholic Church offers prayer service for all during Derek Chauvin trial". Kare 11. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Curry, Sheree (26 July 2024). "Pope Francis Names St. Thomas Alum Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis". Newsroom | University of St. Thomas. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ The Episcopal Ordination of The Most Reverend Kevin Thomas Kenney on October 28, 2024. Cathedral of Saint Paul. October 28, 2024. Event occurs at 2:43:15. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
