Arthur Kennedy (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Leo Kennedy is a Roman Catholic
Auxiliary Bishop
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Bishop Kennedy attended Longfellow Elementary School in Boston’s Roslindale section and St. Aidan Grammar
School in Brookline, Massachusetts
before entering the Boston Latin School
of which he is an alumnus of the class
of 1959. He received his undergraduate degree from St. John's Seminary College in 1963. Kennedy then attended the Pontifical North American College
in Rome, Italy and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston on December 17, 1966 in St. Peter’s Basilica by the then rector of the Pontifical North American College, Bishop Francis Reh. He obtained a licentiate degree in sacred theology (S.T.L.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University
in 1967.
Kennedy attended Boston University
where he was a teaching assistant. He earned his doctorate in theology in 1978. For almost 33 years Bishop Kennedy served in various positions at the University of St. Thomas
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
. Kennedy also served at the Church of the Assumption in St. Paul, MN. In addition to serving as a faculty member at the university, he was also on the faculty of the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
(1990, 1995–2000, 2006) and was Director of the Master of Arts in Theology program.
From 2002-2005, amidst his assignment as university professor, Kennedy served as executive director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
in Washington, D.C.
He is currently the Rector of Saint John's Seminary (Massachusetts) in Brighton, Massachusetts.
On June 14, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI
appointed Kennedy auxiliary bishop
of the Archdiocese of Boston. His consecration was September 14, 2010 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross
.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Background
Arthur Leo Kennedy was born on January 9, 1942 in Boston and is one of six children of the late Arthur and Helen (O’Rourke) Kennedy. He has four brothers (Kevin, Terrence, Christopher, and Brian) and one sister (Maurabeth). He is the uncle of four nieces and four nephews.Bishop Kennedy attended Longfellow Elementary School in Boston’s Roslindale section and St. Aidan Grammar
School in Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
before entering the Boston Latin School
Boston Latin School
The Boston Latin School is a public exam school founded on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the United States....
of which he is an alumnus of the class
of 1959. He received his undergraduate degree from St. John's Seminary College in 1963. Kennedy then attended the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
in Rome, Italy and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston on December 17, 1966 in St. Peter’s Basilica by the then rector of the Pontifical North American College, Bishop Francis Reh. He obtained a licentiate degree in sacred theology (S.T.L.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in 1967.
Kennedy attended Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
where he was a teaching assistant. He earned his doctorate in theology in 1978. For almost 33 years Bishop Kennedy served in various positions at the University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas can refer to:*University of St. Thomas *University of St. Thomas *University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines*Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas , Rome, Italy...
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. Kennedy also served at the Church of the Assumption in St. Paul, MN. In addition to serving as a faculty member at the university, he was also on the faculty of the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
The Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, was founded by Archbishop John Ireland in 1894, to provide ordained priests for the ever-increasing Catholic population of the Upper Midwest. The seminary now sits on the south campus of the University of St. Thomas,...
(1990, 1995–2000, 2006) and was Director of the Master of Arts in Theology program.
From 2002-2005, amidst his assignment as university professor, Kennedy served as executive director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He is currently the Rector of Saint John's Seminary (Massachusetts) in Brighton, Massachusetts.
On June 14, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
appointed Kennedy auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Archdiocese of Boston. His consecration was September 14, 2010 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Cathedral of the Holy Cross
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and the largest Roman Catholic church in New England....
.