January 29 is the anniversary of Patrick J. Kenny.

Patrick Joseph Kenny, son of Patrick Kenny and Susan (McCloy) Kenny, was born on February 20, 1909, on Staten Island, New York. He was baptized on March 7, 1909, in the church of Our Lady of Good Counsel. He attended Public School 17 in Tompkinsville, S.I., then Curtis High School, and in 1927, graduated from Augustinian Academy receiving second highest honors and elected class valedictorian.

(The Academy, founded in 1899, was first located at Austin Place, S.I., where it served boys (grades 5-12) until 1919. During World War I, the Academy closed but was reopened in 1923. In 1926, the Augustinian Academy on Grymes Hill, was opened to high school and post graduate seminarians and day students.)
On September 8, 1927, Patrick Kenny entered the Novitiate at New Hamburg, N.Y., professed first vows on September 9, 1928, and solemn vows three years later. In June 1932, he received a B.A. degree in philosophy from Villanova College, and then studied theology at the University of Wurzburg, Germany, under Professor Hans Meyer. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 28, 1935, by Bishop Matthias Ehrenfried of Wurzburg.

In 1937, when Father Kenny returned to the United States, he was assigned to teach at Augustinian Academy on Staten Island., N.Y. During the nineteen years Father Kenny was a member of that community he taught Religion, Greek, Latin and social studies. He served as Sub-Prior from 1944 to 1950, when he was appointed Prior and Treasurer. From 1942 to 1946, he was auxiliary chaplain to the German Prisoners of War of the Halloran General Hospital on Staten Island, N. Y. In 1956, Father Kenny was assigned Prior and Pastor at Saint James Parish in Carthage, N. Y. During his pastorate a parish grammar school was built. Father served on the Boundary Board for the Ogdensburg Diocesan Synod, was confessor to religious priests and Brothers, and preached in fifteen parishes for the Augustinian Missions. In 1959, Father Kenny was appointed Sub-Prior and counselor to the Augustinian Community at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Jamaica, New York, where he served as associate pastor for thirty-one years. At various times he was moderator of many organizations. To name a few: Holy Name Society, Fund Drive for the New Church, Ecumenical Services in Jamaica, N.Y., Diocesan Fund Drive for High Schools, and served on committee at the Deanery Meetings. In 1990, due to failing health, he retired to Saint Thomas Monastery, and died on January 29, 2001, at Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Father Pat taught the Gospel with a sense of humor and a masterful use of words. He was a zealous preacher, patient confessor, and dedicated teacher. In 1995, he wrote these sentiments about the Monastery Health Care Unit. “It is hard to say it, but many of the infirm have made their last stop on the journey of life. Our Compline prayers, which we say every night, tell us the blessing: May the all powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. Amen. Thanks to all who had anything to do with making this a restful haven.”

A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Thomas of Villanova Chapel on the campus of Villanova University and interment took place at the Augustinian plot, Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pa.