Howdy folks! I’m John Kenny, hailing from the vibrant city of Houston, Texas. Born into a large and loving Catholic family – seven kids in total, with me being right in the middle – family and faith have always been my cornerstones. Growing up with two brothers and five sisters in the hustle and bustle of Houston was an adventure, filled with sports, laughter, and a deep-seated sense of spirituality instilled by my wonderful parents. From a young age, I was drawn to the rituals and meaning behind my family’s faith, observing my parents’ genuine devotion during Mass. They had a knack for weaving faith into everyday life, whether it was my dad’s post-Mass baseball game tradition or my mom’s faith-filled camping trips. These early experiences laid the groundwork for my path toward becoming Brother John.
Currently immersed in my studies for the priesthood, with diaconate ordination just around the corner in a couple of years, I often get asked about the pivotal moment I heard my calling. Believe it or not, it might just involve Krispy Kreme donuts! It sounds funny, I know, but the Holy Spirit works in mysterious and often delicious ways.
All kidding aside, when I was about thirteen, my mom would take my younger sisters and me to downtown Houston, specifically to the chapel run by the Holy Cross Fathers on Main Street for First Friday confessions. My mom’s brilliant incentive? Krispy Kreme donuts afterwards if we went to confession. Teenage logic prevailed, and I went. But something unexpected happened. Through these regular confessions, I began to truly appreciate and experience God’s boundless mercy. Around the same time, a retreat with the Legionaries of Christ further sparked something within me. I met a young seminarian there – athletic, relatable, and deeply faithful. An idea started to take root: “If I ever become a priest, I want to be like this guy.” Then came a confession in that small downtown chapel that changed everything. As I confessed my sins and listened to the priest’s counsel, a profound and undeniable feeling washed over me – an inner voice, clear as day, saying, “John, I want you to be my priest.” It was a call by name, a call to belong solely to Christ.
From that moment, I embarked on a journey to understand and respond to this calling. Weekend camping retreats with the Legionaries of Christ became more frequent, and their dynamic approach to faith and deep spirituality resonated deeply within me. It felt like a strong current pulling me forward. Visiting their minor seminary in New Hampshire solidified my path. It instantly felt like home, the right place for me. Changing schools and moving to New Hampshire to finish high school provided an environment conducive to discerning my vocation. After four years, it became clear that God was indeed calling me to enter the novitiate. This vocation has since led me on an incredible journey across the globe, from Mexico to Italy, and France to Lebanon. God’s plans are truly beyond anything we can imagine, always surprising and fulfilling.
After years of formation and growth, I recognize my imperfections and limitations, yet I also understand that God chooses the weak to carry His message of mercy. My deepest aspiration as a future priest, as Brother John, and as a religious man, is to be a compassionate listener and a generous dispenser of God’s mercy in confession, mirroring the profound mercy I myself have received.
I humbly ask for your prayers as I continue on this path, and I assure you of my prayers in return. God bless you all.
