It is with regret that we inform you of the death at Southport Hospital, Liverpool on Saturday afternoon, 20th July 2024, aged 80, of
Father Michael McKenna
Mill Hill Missionary
May he rest in peace
Michael was born on the 26th of August, 1943 in the hill station cantonment of Murree, Pakistan. His Father was Cornelius McKenna, and his mother Elizabeth nee Clements. His father worked as a civil engineer in Rawalpindi, and died and was buried there when Michael was only 14 months old. The family moved back to England and settled in the Diocese of Clifton. Michael had only two siblings; a brother, who became a diocesan priest, and one sister.
Michael was schooled initially in his local catholic primary school but, feeling called to the priesthood with the Mill Hill Missionaries, he continued his secondary education at St. Peter’s College, Freshfield, Liverpool from 1954 to 1963. He then proceeded to the Mill Hill Missiehuis in Roosendaal, the Netherlands, to study philosophy and associated subjects. From there, he advanced to St. Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, London, to study theology and complete his missionary formation. Towards the completion of his academic studies, Michael took the Perpetual Oath with the Society on the 1st of May, 1968. He was ordained in his local parish of The Immaculate Conception, in the Diocese of Clifton, at the hands of Bishop Joseph Rudderham.
Soon after ordination, Michael was appointed to work in the Diocese of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. As he immersed himself into the cultures, way of life and language of the people, he assisted the priest in charge of Mariakhel Parish in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. In 1970, Michael was appointed to Burn Hall School in Abbottabad as a ‘housemaster’ as well as a teacher. In 1972, he served as a Secretary to Bishop Hettinga and Assistant Bursar in Rawalpindi Diocese. He also served as a parish priest of Sacred Heart Church in Westridge for a few years. Recognising Michael’s academic abilities, the Society appointed him to Further Studies in Canon Law at the Gregorian University, Rome where he graduated LCL (Licentiate in Canon Law) in 1982. After a short home-leave, Michael returned to Rawalpindi, where he worked until 1993. Amongst his ministries in Rawalpindi at this time, he was Chaplain, Hostel Manager and English teacher at Sargodha Institute of Technology, and Assistant Priest at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Islamabad.
From August to December, 1993, Michael attended the “Faith and Mission” course offered at the Columban Motherhouse in Navan, Ireland.
The following year, Michael accepted a Chaplaincy post at the Bernardine Cistercian Monastery, Our Lady of Hyning, in Lancaster Diocese. For twenty-three years, Michael served faithfully the Sisters, retreatants and visitors in this monastery, which offered hospitality to all those who came to pray, reflect and study in the peaceful and prayerful surroundings of the guesthouse and garden. Following a serious fall in the grounds of the monastery, he decided to retire to Herbert House, Freshfields due to ill health in October 2017. Michael declared himself content in Herbert House. He celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination in 2019.
Michael had a number of health issues to contend with. He peacefully returned to the Lord in the afternoon of Saturday, 20th July 2024 at Southport Hospital where he was admitted recently. May he rest in peace!
His funeral details will be communicated through the Society website as soon as they are available.
