Fr. Kieran McInerney (1926-2016)
Father Kieran McInerney was born on April 21, 1926, the son Peter and Margaret (Wall) McInerney, and was baptized with the name of James Peter. His first contact with the Abbey community was as a camper at Camp Saint Maur. After his sophomore year at St. Benedict’s College, he entered the novitiate, receiving the name of Kieran. He made his religious profession on September 21, 1947 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1952.
After an initial three years assignment as an associate pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Seneca, Kansas, in 1955 Father Kieran entered the educational apostolates of the Abbey, serving alternatively as teacher, administrator and chaplain at Lillis High School, Kansas City, Missouri, Maur Hill School, St. Benedict’s College and Benedictine College. This period of his life lasted for twenty years. During this time Fr. Kieran turned his efforts, with the blessing of Abbot Thomas, to the social needs of the Atchison community as he strove to work with the various faith communities and the underserved in Atchison. Father Kieran was the founding Administrator of Happy Hearts. Along with the Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery, and the people of Atchison, Happy Hearts was started to meet the needs of low-income families for quality pre-school, and other educational services. He would serve as Administrator from 1970-1975.
About this time Father Kieran met Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. He was deeply moved by her commitment to the poorest of the poor. Mother Teresa invited Father Kieran to come to India and help with her work among the poor there. When he was not able to obtain a Visa to India at that time, he then asked if he could go work with the St. Benedict’s Abbey monks serving in Brazil.
In 1975 Father Kieran joined three other monks who were sent to Brazil by Abbot Brendan Downey. Thus began his thirty-five years as a beloved monk and missionary in that country. He engaged successively in the ministries of St. Joseph Priory, assistance to Bishop Matthias Schmidt, OSB in his diocese of Rui Barbosa, Bahia, then returning to the priory as religious superior and later as business manager.
During this time he guided the construction of the priory’s beautiful church. He also developed an extensive ministry to the sick in the hospitals of the city.
He did not forget his extensive family while in Brazil. During his annual visits to the United States he developed a “Family Mass,” which was attended by his siblings, their spouses, children and grandchildren. This grew annually and he was able to see a great nephew, Matthew Nagle, ordained to the priesthood and succeeding him as the celebrant of the annual McInerney Family Mass.
Failing health dictated Father Kieran’s return to the Abbey in 2010. In spite of physical disability and the onset of blindness, he continued to join the community at daily mass and prayer. His patience in the midst of suffering provided a wonderful example to all. On Saturday, March 12, 2016, surrounded by his confreres, he died peacefully fortified by the sacraments of the Church. Given the dedication of the McInerney family to their Irish heritage, it was altogether fitting that he was buried on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day.
