Rev. Msgr. James Terence Kenny is laid to rest

Intermountain Catholic

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Close family friend Helen Eugster (left), Philip Kenny, Msgr. James T. Kenny's brother, and Rose Marie Mancheim, a close family friend, gather for the celebration of the funeral Mass of Msgr. Kenny before he is laid to rest.

SALT LAKE CITY — Family, friends, and clergy gathered to send Msgr. James Terence Kenny to his final resting place June 6, in the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, concelebrated Mass with Vicar General Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald and priests from throughout the diocese.

"We give thanks to almighty God for the life of Msgr. James Kenny," said Bishop Wester." You chose our brother James as a priest to serve and to follow Christ’s call. In a very special way I wish to welcome Philip Kenny, Msgr. Kenny’s brother, all of his family, Helen Eugster, and John Earl and Rosemarie Mancheim, who were family for Msgr. Kenny. I also want to welcome those from among the staff of CHRISTUS Saint Joseph Villa, especially the sisters, and note Father Anastasius Iwuoha, who could not be here this morning because of other ministerial commitments, but was here last night at the vigil."

Msgr. Kenny was born Nov. 28, 1919. He was ordained a priest June 17, 1945. He received the Prelate of Honor Jan. 13, 1988. He died May 31, 2009.

"On behalf of all of us, I want to express condolences to you Phil, on the death of your brother and to the other members of the family, and to Helen Eugster, John Earl, and Rose Marie, you were family for Msgr. Kenny," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. " He spoke of his love for you. I want to express gratitude to the many who cared for Monsignor, especially the staff at CHRISTUS Saint Joseph Villa, Fr. Anastasius, the sisters, Erma Sine, as well as Rose Graham and Tom McMahon.

"Last Sunday morning as we were celebrating the Feast of Pentecost, the commemoration of the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of our Church, Msgr. Kenny was on his way to the Villa chapel for Mass when he collapsed and later died. In a few months he would have turned 90, and in a few weeks would have been a priest for 65 years. On Pentecost, he was called to celebrate the fullness of Eucharist with the Lord in the heavenly kingdom, as we heard from the ancient prophet Isaiah.

"We are not clones of one another," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "There are many dwelling places in heaven because there are countless people the Lord leads who are very different. Msgr. Kenny was certainly unique.

"The path he took following Christ was in answer to his call to serve in Utah as a priest," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "He was a native of Ogden, where his father worked for the railroad. He was proud of his Irish roots that gave him a quick wit, a generous heart, and care for the underdog. Hard work was his coat of arms. For many people, Msgr. Kenny became the way, leading them to the Father; he was the messenger of the truth, and the instrument of divine life.

"I first knew Msgr. Kenny when I was a high school student at Judge Memorial," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "He taught us Latin and religion. During vacations some of us would help him paint classrooms to help pay off our tuition. In the summer, Msgr. Kenny could be seen driving a tractor, cutting the grass on the Judge football field. In the winter, he would be clearing the parking lots and sidewalks early in the morning. Many young priests were mentored by him as beginning teachers at the high school."

Msgr. Fitzgerald said religious education, especially in Catholic schools was a concern for Msgr. Kenny. For some years he served as Superintendent of Schools for the diocese. He built the present academic building at Judge Memorial and never forgot the fact that he was transferred to a parish before he had the opportunity to serve very long in the new facilities. For many Judge graduates, Msgr. Kenny was always the mascot of the school who toasted at alumni gatherings. For some he was the inspiration for their priestly vocation.

"During his years as pastor at Saint Ann Parish and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Salt Lake City, he worked hard for the development of the schools," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "In the other parishes he served, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Midvale and Saint Olaf in Bountiful, religious education and youth were priorities. He loved the challenge of paying off parish debts. Above all, he was really an old fashioned pastor, in homes visiting the sick, and spending hours on the telephone calling parishioners he had not seen at church.

"For many years he was diocesan director of scouting and nationally recognized for his contributions to its development," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "He knew the Holy Cross Sisters from his own school days in Ogden, again at Judge Memorial and Our Lady of Lourdes. The Sisters of the Incarnate Word he knew from Kearns-Saint Ann School, and he knew the Benedictine Sisters when he was chaplain at their Ogden hospital.

"No life is without its struggles and that was true for Msgr. Kenny," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "The changes of Vatican II were not easy for him. He never wanted to let go of communion rails, and was not crazy about people receiving communion in the hand or exchanging the sign of peace. When it came to having school boards or lay people making decisions, he was not enthusiastic. He liked to do things his way, as he often said."