Msgr. Edward Joseph Kennedy, a priest for more than 50 years who was one of the first priests in the Diocese of Camden to begin missionary work in Brazil, died March 13 at the age of 87.
Born in Jenkintown, Pa., on Aug. 19, 1923, Msgr. Kennedy studied accounting at the University of Pennsylvania before going on to seminary studies at Christ the King, St. Bonaventure, N.Y..; and St. Philip Neri, Boston, Mass. He was ordained on May 23, 1959, in Camden by Bishop Justin J. McCarthy. His first assignment was parochial vicar at St. Michael’s Parish in Gibbstown (1959-61).
Msgr. Kennedy served as pastor of St. Anthony, Waterford (1967-71); St. Stephen, Pennsauken (1971-75); and Transfiguration, West Collingswood (1975-92).
His other parish assignments included St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral, Camden (parochial vicar, 1965); and St. Margaret, Woodbury Heights (senior priest, 1992-93).
In December 1961, at the age of 38, Msgr. (then Father) Kennedy went to work in Brazil alongside Msgr. (then Father) Felix M. O’Neill, serving the Diocese of Jatai in the Brazilian state of Goias, while taking lessons in Portuguese. He was pastor of three parishes in Brazil: Santa Helena and San Jose in Gioania, and Cure d’Ars in the capital city of Brasilia. He continued his missionary work until 1965.
Msgr. Kennedy was active as a member of the Priests’ Council, the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and Priests’ Personnel Board; as chairman of the Clergy Personnel Board; as diocesan moderator of PTA; and as the Presbyteral Council retired priests representative .
Msgr. Kennedy retired in 1993.
Msgr. (then Father) Eugene Kernan, who met Msgr. Kennedy in 1949 when the latter was a bartender in Brigantine before joining the seminary, remembered Msgr. Kennedy as a “good, good man” who “worked hard for the people. He took care of them, and they liked him.”
“Msgr. Kennedy was a dedicated priest, very conscientious, who was precise at getting things done right,” recalled Father Alfred Hewett, who befriended Msgr. Kennedy while the two were in Christ the King seminary.
After Msgr. Kennedy left the Brazilian missions in 1965, Father Hewett picked up where his friend left off, traveling to Brazil in 1966 to serve. A decade ago, the two went back to Brazil, to see the continuity of their work.
A viewing for Msgr. Kennedy will take place at Transfiguration Church, 445 White Horse Pike, West Collingswood on March 18 from 3-6:30 p.m. A Mass of Jesus Christ the High Priest will follow at 7 p.m.
The viewing will continue on March 19 from 9-10:30 a.m. at Transfiguration. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.
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