Fr Dominic McKenna RIP

Fr Dominic McKenna speaking at Cardinal Nichols' Lenten Appeal. Image: Mazur/CBCEW

Westminster Diocese issued the following statement today: "With sadness we announce the news of the death on Monday 2nd October of Fr Dominic Anthony McKenna, Parish Priest of the parishes of St Teresa of the Child Jesus, Borehamwood and Ss John Fisher and Thomas More, Borehamwood North.

Fr Dominic died peacefully in the Royal Free Hospital where he had been for the past few weeks. He was born in Dublin on 21st August 1950 and ordained to the priesthood in Clapton on 12th November 1994.

Condolences are extended to Fr Dominic's family, friends, colleagues and parishioners of the Borehamwood parishes where he had been Parish Priest since 2010.

Fr Dominic's earthly pilgrimage was completed on the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels. We pray in thanksgiving for his life and ministry, and now for the repose of his soul, asking the Holy Guardian Angels' intercession:

O God, who in your unfathomable providence
are pleased to send your holy Angels to guard us,
hear our supplication as we cry to you,
that we may always be defended by their protection
and rejoice eternally in their company.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.

May choirs of Angels welcome him
and lead him to the bosom of Abraham;
and where Lazarus is poor no longer
may he find eternal rest.

Grant, we pray, O Lord,
that the soul of Fr Dominic, your servant and priest, whom you honoured with sacred office may exult forever in the glorious home of heaven.
And may his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

OBITUARY

Fr Dominic was a man and priest with boundless energetic zest for life and for his priestly ministry, and his life and ministry enhanced the lives of so many people in, and beyond, the Church. Most people seemed to think he was only in his 60s and were surprised and shocked by the death of Fr Dominic McKenna, Parish Priest of the two Borehamwood parishes, on 2nd October at the age of 73. He had been in hospital for four weeks, bearing his illness bravely and with absolute confidence in the loving mercy of God.

Before beginning formation for the priesthood for the Diocese of Westminster in 1989, Dominic McKenna had been a teacher of Religious Studies at Cardinal Pole Secondary School in Hackney. He was a dedicated and effective teacher who involved himself in the out of school activities for the students, as well as in his local parish of St Scholastica, Clapton where he organized the RCIA and the confirmation programme for young people. He served as Chair of the Parish Council for many years, and as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

He was outward going and outward looking and his enthusiasm for all he undertook was infectious. His self-confidence enabled others to feel safe and valued, and his sense of humour and broad smile brought joy to serious business. His training, experience and skills as a teacher helped to make him a confident, kind and generous pastor who engaged with parishioners young and old and with the wider communities in the parishes where he served as a priest with a genuine interest in them and in their concerns.

Dominic Anthony McKenna was born in Dublin, Ireland on 21st August 1950, the third of five children born to Patrick and Mary McKenna. He was baptised two weeks later at the Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 and at the age of 12 was confirmed in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. Religious faith and practice were important to the family and the young Dominic was a regular altar server, fond of ritual and celebration. He attended the local primary school, Mary Queen of Angels in Ballyfermot, and then the local secondary grammar school, De La Salle College, where he remained for a year. Then, aged 15, Dominic transferred to Damian College in Clones, Co Monaghan as a boarder for four years.

He felt called to the priesthood and explored the possibility of a vocation with the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts (SS.CC), strongly influenced by Fr Pat Bradley SS.CC, Principal of the College. In 1969 Dominic went to the novitiate in Cootehill, Co Cavan. As well as attending to studies, Dominic found himself appointed 'community cook', also helping on the college farm. He ran the youth club in the local town. After eighteen months he was sent to study philosophy, history, sociology and English at the University of Ireland, Maynooth and, again, involved himself in community life outside of the university. This helped him to realise it was time to move on.

He and the SS.CC parted company, amicably. In 1971 Dominic crossed the water to Endsleigh Catholic Teachers College, Hull where he gained the Catholic Certificate in Religious Education; then, at Hull University, was awarded Bachelor of Education. During his years in Hull he spent summer holidays working with adults with learning difficulties at Warley Hospital, Brentwood. In 1984 he moved south, to London, taking employment at Cardinal Pole Secondary School in 1974. He became Head of Year and Head of the Sociology Department, remaining at the school for 15 years.

His commitment to the students and their education led to involvement with weekend stays with students in youth hostels, day trips for horse riding and residential retreats with sixth-formers. He also organized school concerts and plays, and he served as the school's coordinator of the Hackney police education scheme, helping to improve relations between the police and local youth. He worked with Fr Maurice Keane SJ, examining and striving to improve race relations in east London. In 1980 Dominic was a representative at the National Pastoral Congress in Liverpool, involving himself with work on prisoners and prisons.

Thoughts of the priesthood stayed with Dominic while working as a teacher and in his involvement with parish life. In 1988 thoughts, and prayer, led to action and he applied to the diocese. London had become his home.

In 1989 Dominic went to Allen Hall, the Westminster diocesan seminary in Chelsea. He enjoyed his time at Allen Hall, applying himself to studies and to the life of the community, contributing his time and energy generously. He deepened his interior life of prayer as he made the effort, and found time, to be still. He formed lasting friendships. He gained the theology degree, STB, validated by the Catholic University, Leuven. As a seminarian, Dominic and some other mature seminarians, lived in the large presbytery at Camden Town where they shared in the life of the house and parish alongside the Parish Priest who mentored the seminarians while they continued academic formation for ordination.

While at Camden Dominic was stretched pastorally and spiritually and he recognised the value of this. He engaged with children, young people and parents and his natural empathy for poor people endeared him to others and encouraged him to devote time to prayer for the needs of others. Preparing talks also motivated Dominic to pray, to keep his thoughts focused on God. He was committed to deepening his relationship with God for its own sake and also as a means of sharing the things of God with others.

Dominic was ordained to the priesthood at St Scholastica's, Clapton on 12th November 1994 by Bishop Victor Guazzelli, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster. Father, now Bishop, Paul McAleenan was the Parish Priest having been appointed in September 1994. Bishop Paul recalls the church being full to capacity, with parishioners, teaching colleagues, students, family and friends. Fr Dominic's first appointment was to serve as Assistant Priest at Dollis Hill. He returned to Camden Town as Assistant Priest in 1997 and appointed Parish Priest there the following year.

2005-06 was a difficult year for Fr Dominic. A non-recent allegation was made that required investigation. Fr Dominic stood down from ministry and went to live elsewhere while the investigation was conducted. He cooperated with all that was asked of him. It was a difficult time for him and for everyone concerned. The experience helped to deepen his life of prayer and his appreciation of friendship. At the conclusion of the procedures and processes that were necessary Fr Dominic was able to return to Camden Town at Christmas 2006 to the delight of his parishioners, family, friends and colleagues.

In 2010 Fr Dominic moved on from Camden Town, having been appointed to Borehamwood. Parishioners at Camden Town had come to know and love their Parish Priest as a 'father, brother and uncle all rolled into one', as reported in a local newspaper. Fr Dominic was devoted to the parish and the parishioners, and he accepted the news of his new appointment with mixed feelings. He told a journalist 'it's very difficult to say goodbye. But at the same time you make a promise when you are ordained to be obedient to the diocese and you have to fulfil that. It would be easier to stay, but that's not why I went into the priesthood.'

Fr Dominic was appointed Parish Priest of the two Borehamwood parishes, St Teresa of the Child Jesus and Ss John Fisher and Thomas More. His ministry for the past 13 years was characterised by tirelessly and selflessly ministering to his parishioners pastorally, spiritually, liturgically, catechetically and socially, and also reaching out to the wider local community, motivated by his sense of, and commitment to, social justice. He knew that love of God requires love of neighbour - all people - expressed in practical ways.

His ministry was expressed through outreach and inclusion. His homilies were always well prepared and engaging, often focusing on social injustices. In a remarkable way he was able to present the truth firmly, clearly and convincingly in such a way that those who differed from him were not offended or rejected.

In 2013 it was reported in the local newspaper that his concern for poor people moved him to turn his church into a foodbank for two days a week. He acquired two shipping containers which he positioned at the rear of the presbytery. He shrouded them in wood panelling as they were re-purposed as a major food bank for the local community, looking like a welcoming supermarket, without tills. The project was supported by community groups and shops, and many volunteers gave of their time to help meet the needs of the people who came to depend on the food bank. Fr Dominic was moved by the support given, saying 'I am overwhelmed by all this support - it is heart warming to know so many people want to help. It has been just spectacular, a real example of community spirit and it has been so nice to see people of all faiths and no faith coming together to help the hungry. I want to make having access to food less of a hurdle…I am so worried about the benefit cuts, people have admitted to me that they pay the bills instead of eating. I just hope this will make some difference.'

He initiated a monthly Sunday meal, often attracting over 100 guests, fed with food cooked on the premises with Fr Dominic assisting in the kitchen, welcoming guests and showing them to their places at table. Fr Dominic also had concern for those who were victims and survivors of domestic abuse, working with Caritas Safe in Faith to support such people. He trained for this work in 2021, bringing valuable experience and insights from his years as a teacher and then priest, closely involved with the lives of families.

Fr Dominic's life before priesthood, and as a priest, made a difference to the lives of many, especially children, young people, the poor and the lonely. So many people came to regard him as their friend because of the interest and respect he had for everyone he met. As a priest he celebrated Mass and fed parishioners with the Eucharist, and he fed the wider community with the nourishment of care and compassion, working with others to provide for their needs, giving the hungry daily bread and building God's kingdom of justice - disturbing the peace if necessary. He has been described as 'a model of priesthood, his loss will be felt deeply and widely'.

Fr Dominic's leisure interests included cooking and entertaining at home, overseas travel especially in Europe and the USA. He made time to visit family and friends, and for their visits to him. He enjoyed horse riding, and was good at it. Sedate activities included going to the cinema and listening to Irish traditional and folk music.

May the deep faith and generous ministry of Fr Dominic be rewarded by God whom he knew, loved and served, and may he rest in peace. Amen.