Today's Province e-mail brought the following unexpected news: "Fr. Kevin McKenna SJ was feeling a little congested, and so the nursing staff put him to bed for some extra rest. When they went in to wake him up and get him ready for supper, they found that he had passed away."
My first impious thought, even before wishing him eternal rest, was: How very unlike Kevin to miss a meal for no good reason. Followed by a pious second thought: He has obviously chosen the better part.
Those of us who grew up in Montreal a half-century-plus ago all knew about the McKennas even before meeting the cousins Emmett and Kevin of the Society of Jesus. For no Catholic wedding, funeral or other grand occasion would be complete without their floral services, now called "McKenna Town Florist" or "McKenna Fleuriste de la Ville à Montréal" (google-able even in far away Rome).
From that family, Emmett was at Loyola Highschool while I was a student there (1959-1963), but I didn't meet Kevin before my being assigned to Gonzaga in St John's for regency (1968-69).
Others better informed will write a proper obituary but, in the more instantaneous style of IgNation, I would like to repay two great debts of gratitude which I owe to Father Kevin McKenna SJ.
Once upon a time during regency, I really blew it. In spades. No need to go into details, suffice to say that, terribly ashamed and distressed, I went into Kevin's office and ‘fessed up. Had he thoroughly beaten up on me, I would have amply deserved it all and more. Instead, he stood by me, realigned my sin with school policy, and carried on as if nothing could be better. On that day, I learned that a real boss not only forgives his underling but actually takes the rap for him. Thank you, Fr Principal. In your honour, I can only hope never to have failed to stand up for whoever looked to me for authority and guidance. Many years later, I understand this as a glowing example of subsidiarity, one of the key graces of Catholic social teaching.
Once upon another time during the same regency, I again went into Kevin's office, not so much sinful as bearing an intra-school problem which I thought he ought to take up. "Hmmmmmmmmmmmm," he hummed, a characteristic of his associated with something good or pleasant (usually edible). And he went on, “My son, never bring me a problem without also bringing at least one or two possible solutions.” Brilliant advice which I hope others will testify to my having tried to implement during the many years since.
Thank you, Kevin, and now please rest in peace