Fr. W. Henry (Hank) Kenney, SJ, 1918-2011
October 3, 2011 in 2011, News, Obituaries
Fr. W. Henry Kenney, SJ
Fr. W. Henry (Hank) Kenney, SJ
September 28, 1918, to October 3, 2011
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Fr. W. Henry (Hank) Kenney, SJ, Jesuit Priest and missionary to South Africa, died on October 3, 2011, in Clarkston, Michigan. Born on September 28, 1918, to parents Herbert Kenney and Alice Terstegg, Fr. Kenney was an Indiana native and one of six children (five boys, one girl). Fr. Kenney is survived by his brother James C. Kenney. “He was dedicated to his ministry,” explained Fr. Walter Bado, SJ, fellow Jesuit brother and longtime coworker at Kentucky Jesuit Mission. “He was so dedicated that he just wanted to serve as long as he could, and people appreciated that about him.”
After earning his high school diploma in 1935 from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, Fr. Kenney attended St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana. It was there that he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in both English and physics (1939). Immediately following college he entered the Milford Novitiate in Milford, Ohio. For the next 11 years, as he studied to become a Jesuit, Fr. Kenney received numerous degrees including a licentiate in philosophy (Ph.L) from West Baden College in 1946, as well as a licentiate in sacred theology (S.T.L) in 1953. He was ordained on June 18, 1952, in West Baden, Indiana.
Fr. Kenney spent the first 21 years of his priesthood teaching at both the high school and college levels at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, (1946-1979) and Xavier University (1957-1967). He traveled around the Midwest serving in various positions such as superior of the philosophers at Bellarmine School of Theology, of the collegiate (First Studies) program at the University of Detroit, and assistant for communities and apostolates at the Province Office (1969-1973).
In 1973, Fr. Kenney took his work to Ghana and Nigeria for spiritual renewal before returning back to his roots as a professor of philosophy in Sudan (1975-1979). He briefly returned to the United States during which time he spent a year teaching at Loyola University Chicago. For the next five years (1981-1986) Fr. Kenney returned to South Africa and served as spiritual and retreat director and superior. “He was a great spiritual director –a prayer coach in many ways,” said Fr. Bado. He joined the Kentucky Jesuit Mission in Lexington in 1987 and remained there for 24 years offering outreaching programs, individual and group retreats, direction of the Bluegrass Spirituality Center, providing chaplaincy to various hospitals and other activities to aid the community. “Fr. Kenney began Spiritual Direction for me and we met for 25 years. I will truly, truly, truly miss him,” said longtime friend of 25 years Rev. Willis Polk. He taught me to be with God and to love him.
In July of 2011, Fr. Kenney was moved to the Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan, until his death in October.
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Memorial gifts may be made to The Jesuits, 2050 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60614.
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It has been almost six months since Father Hank’s death but his influence remains. Father Hank was my prayer coach for almost eleven years. He even coached me via the phone from his bed at the Jesuit infirmary a few weeks before his death. His influence on my life has been profound because he let the Spirit flow through him to others. His wisdom, humor, reverence, direction and tough questions and the intercession of St. Ignatius were just what I needed to help me grow in love with Abba, Jesus and the Spirit. I am grateful for just knowing Father Hank and for experiencing his great care of people and his love of “christened souls.”
Ad majorem Dei gloriam
This dear man came to us during a trying time for my sister and her husband. They wished to renew their wedding vows, and as the doctors felt my borther in law was in the final stage of lung cancer, we had little time to help fulfill their wishes. Father Kenney cane in the middle of the night and granted their wish. He gave us all his love that night, as we gathered. The love and calm he brought with him is still fresh in my mind and speaks of the mission we all should have in our lives, helping and supporting others during the hard times in their lives. thank you Father Kenney.
Fr. Hank Kenney was one of those exceedingly rare individuals who providentially enters one’s life when most needed and leaves an unforgettable impression a humble servant of God, an angelic messenger he seemed to me, administering to souls in spiritual crisis and at death’s door. I first met Fr. Kenny very late one night in 2007 at the VA Hospital in Lexington, KY when he appeared at the bedside of my husband who was terminally ill. He so graciously led us through wedding vows at my husband’s request – a special dispensation for my husband, a Catholic, and for me, a Lutheran. We had been formally married years before in a civil ceremony in Reno, Nevada. The spiritual joy and hope this gave to my husband sustained him and comforted us both at a time when everything else was bleak and heartbreaking. After my husband’s death in February, 2008 Fr. Kenney and I met occasionally for lunch at the Red Lobster in Lexington. Our conversations were lively, fascinating and inspirational for us both, I believe. Even though there was 20 years difference in our age, he was a contemporary and timeless man with an amazing intellect and capacity for compassion and empathy for everyone he encountered. After I sold my home at Lake Cumberland in July 2010, I moved from Kentucky to Sacramento, California, we kept in touch by cellphone and emails. I last spoke very briefly with him after his medical transfer from Lexington to Michigan. He was in the midst of breathing therapy and he asked me to call back. I was never able to reach him and just found his obituary this morning through a Google search.. I shall dearly miss Fr. Kenney – a truly good man.
Father Kenney provided pastoral care and sacramental ministry to the VA community in Lexington, Ky. for over 20 years. His dedication to ministry and pastoral presence ministered to the entire VA Community. He is sadly missed by us all. He deeply touched each of our lives. We are thankful for our time with this great man of faith.
[...] The Reverend William Henry Kenney, SJ, known to many as “Fr. Hank,” died at the Colombiere Center in Clarkston MI on Oct. 3, 2011, [...]
We are so grateful to have known Father Kenney. He was one of the warmest, wisest and most genuine people either of us has ever had the privilege to know. We have such fond, loving memories of him — from telling us stories and jokes, to baptizing and blessing our children. Father Kenney will be greatly missed in our family, and our deepest sympathies go out to his
As our spiritual coach showed us, we need to be thankful for the good good gifts we receive. Fr. Hank Kenney, SJ was one of those once in a life time gifts. We will miss Fr. Hank very much but look forward to meeting him again in paradise. God our Father, thank You for Fr. Hank and grant him the reward promised to good and faithful servants.
Those of us who attended his 12 noon Mass at Christ the King in Lexington, KY will miss him very much. He was always willing to listen & offer advice when asked. I will keep him in my prayers.
My deepest condolences to the Kenney family.
Although I never met Father Kenney, Jack Kenney and I talked about him so often, I feel a deep loss. I admire the Jesuits and Father Kenney was at the top of my list.
May he rest in peace with the Lord he loved so much.
I was a classmate in grade school at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in New Albany, IN. Our last visit happened within the last eight months when Hank was at St. Meinrad, IN with priests of the Lexington, Ky diocese. He will be missed. I am offering five Masses for the repose of his soul. May he rest in peace.