Daniel Jerome Kennedy, O.P.
Daniel Jerome Kennedy, O.P.
Born: October 9, 1933
Professed: August 16, 1954
Ordained: June 16, 1960
Died: September 25, 2002
Daniel Kennedy, the son of Matthew and Irene Des Champs Kennedy, was born in Syracuse, NY, where he attended St. Patrick elementary and high schools.
After attending Providence College, 1951-1953, Daniel entered the novitiate of St. Joseph Province, receiving the habit on August 15, 1953 at St. Stephen Priory, Dover, MA, taking the religious name Jerome. Following profession of vows a year later, he studied philosophy at St. Rose Priory, Springfield, KY, and St. Stephen Priory at Dover, MA. His theological studies were pursued at the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC, and he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Dominic’s Church by Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate to the United States.
Fr. Kennedy’s first assignment was to Ursuline College, Louisville, KY, 1961-1965, as professor of theology and philosophy. He then served as college chaplain and theology professor at Albertus Magnus, New Haven, CT, from 1965-1967. Following doctoral studies at Fribourg, Switzerland from 1967-1970, he went to Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI, as theology professor from 1970-1975. He also served as prior of the Dominican community.
From 1975-1983 he did parochial ministry at Holy Name Parish in Philadelphia, where he was prior the last six years. He was in parochial ministry at St Mary’s in New Haven, CT, from 1983 to 1986; St. Pius parish in Providence, RI, from 1986-1990; and St. Louis Bertrand parish in Louisville, KY, from 1990-1998. His last three years there he was the prior of the community.
Following a year’s sabbatical he was assigned to St. Dominic Priory in Washington, DC.
After a short illness, in 2002 his oncologist told him he had only a month or two to live. He said he was really blessed and at peace because he had time to prepare for his death and not too many people get that chance. His time at Rosary Hill Home with the Hawthorne Dominican sisters was also a blessing and he died peacefully there on September 25th, 2002.
Fr. James Kennedy, his brother, was the celebrant and homilist at the Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Innocents Church, Pleasantville, NY. Fr. Kennedy was buried in the Dominican Friars’ section of All Souls Cemetery in Pleasantville, NY.
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