Ken Barker
Encyclopedia
Ken Barker is an Australian Roman Catholic priest. He is the moderator of the Missionaries of God's Love
religious congregation and founder of the Young Men of God Movement.
Ken Barker was a born in Murrumburrah, New South Wales
in 1948 and grew up in Rye Park, a town of just 287 people near Harden
in rural NSW. He attended the Christian Brothers, St Patrick’s College, Goulburn, NSW, finishing in 1965. After school he won a Commonwealth Scholarship to Sydney University where he finished two years of physics and maths studies for a science degree. That was when he realised that being a priest was his true vocation.
He received his training to become a priest from St Columbus Seminary at Springwood, NSW and St Patrick's College, Manly. He finished a degree in theology, graduating with honours. He then returned to the University of Sydney and finished his science degree.
He was ordained in 1974 by Archbishop Thomas Vincent Cahill and for the next two years was assistant parish priest in Cootamundra, NSW.
In 1976 he was sent to the US to study at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. where he obtained a Ph.D. in religious education. He travelled to various communities in the US and experienced the charismatic renewal of Catholic life. He realised then that this was the way he wanted to be involved with the Church and with God.
Back in Australia in 1980, the charismatic renewal movement was also emerging. Appointed assistant priest to the Cathedral in Canberra and Diocesan Youth Minister, Fr Ken also became a member of the Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community. In 1985 three young men from the Disciples of Jesus Community approached him independently and said they wanted to become priests. Fr Ken, along with the three young men, prayed on this matter for more than a year and it gradually became clear the Lord wanted him to form a Brotherhood to evangelise young people and live a life of poverty as Jesus had, and help the poor.
The Brotherhood would have a special love for the Virgin Mary and be dedicated to the heart of Christ. Discussing this with Archbishop Francis Carroll
of Canberra
and Goulburn, it was eventually decided Fr Ken would leave his position as assistant priest at the Cathedral and form what was seen as a modified youth ministry and form of diocese priesthood which would be the equivalent of a congregation.
The Missionaries of God's Love (MGL) came into being in 1986 with a base in a suburban house in Canberra. 20 years later, the MGL has more than 40 members, 13 ordained priests, two deacons, 16 at its seminary in Melbourne
which is overseen by Fr Chris Ryan.
He is the author of 4 books His Name is Mercy, Becoming Fire, Radical Way of Love, and the best-selling Young Men Rise Up.
Missionaries of God's Love
The Missionaries of God's Love is a Roman Catholic religious congregation that came into being in Canberra, Australia in 1986.It was founded by Fr Ken Barker who is the moderator of the congregation and is also the founder of the Young Men of God Movement.20 years later, the MGL has more than 40...
religious congregation and founder of the Young Men of God Movement.
Ken Barker was a born in Murrumburrah, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1948 and grew up in Rye Park, a town of just 287 people near Harden
Harden, New South Wales
Harden-Murrumburrah is a township and community in the centre of Harden Shire and is located in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales in Australia and is adjacent to both the Canberra region of the Australian Capital Territory and the Riverina Region in the southwest area of NSW...
in rural NSW. He attended the Christian Brothers, St Patrick’s College, Goulburn, NSW, finishing in 1965. After school he won a Commonwealth Scholarship to Sydney University where he finished two years of physics and maths studies for a science degree. That was when he realised that being a priest was his true vocation.
He received his training to become a priest from St Columbus Seminary at Springwood, NSW and St Patrick's College, Manly. He finished a degree in theology, graduating with honours. He then returned to the University of Sydney and finished his science degree.
He was ordained in 1974 by Archbishop Thomas Vincent Cahill and for the next two years was assistant parish priest in Cootamundra, NSW.
In 1976 he was sent to the US to study at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. where he obtained a Ph.D. in religious education. He travelled to various communities in the US and experienced the charismatic renewal of Catholic life. He realised then that this was the way he wanted to be involved with the Church and with God.
Back in Australia in 1980, the charismatic renewal movement was also emerging. Appointed assistant priest to the Cathedral in Canberra and Diocesan Youth Minister, Fr Ken also became a member of the Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community. In 1985 three young men from the Disciples of Jesus Community approached him independently and said they wanted to become priests. Fr Ken, along with the three young men, prayed on this matter for more than a year and it gradually became clear the Lord wanted him to form a Brotherhood to evangelise young people and live a life of poverty as Jesus had, and help the poor.
The Brotherhood would have a special love for the Virgin Mary and be dedicated to the heart of Christ. Discussing this with Archbishop Francis Carroll
Francis Carroll
Francis Patrick Carroll is a retired archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn and a former president of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference....
of Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and Goulburn, it was eventually decided Fr Ken would leave his position as assistant priest at the Cathedral and form what was seen as a modified youth ministry and form of diocese priesthood which would be the equivalent of a congregation.
The Missionaries of God's Love (MGL) came into being in 1986 with a base in a suburban house in Canberra. 20 years later, the MGL has more than 40 members, 13 ordained priests, two deacons, 16 at its seminary in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
which is overseen by Fr Chris Ryan.
He is the author of 4 books His Name is Mercy, Becoming Fire, Radical Way of Love, and the best-selling Young Men Rise Up.