Santa
Clara County
Biographies
REV. ROBERT EMMET KENNA, S. J.
Illustrative of the value of
having a firm purpose in life, steadfastly followed from childhood until later
years bring the accomplishment and realization of that purpose is the career of
Father Kenna, president of Santa Clara College, and
one of the leading educators and spiritual teachers of the Roman Catholic
Church on the Pacific coast. Father Kenna was born at
Brandon, Miss., September 16, 1844, being a son of Patrick R. and Cynthia Euphemia (Cunningham) Kenna, the
former born near Kilkenny, Ireland, the latter a
native of Georgia. In early life Patrick R. Kenna
came to the United States and by industry and good management acquired large
shipping interests in Baltimore, Md., and owned a line of sailing vessels.
During the ‘30s he removed to Mississippi and opened a musical academy at
Yazoo, where he utilized the splendid musical education he had received in
France and Spain. The gold fever seized him in 1849 and he came to California
during that year, settling in Marysville, but, before success had crowned his
efforts in the mines, he died in 1850, at about fifty years of age. The mother
of Father Kenna died when her son, Robert Emmet, was
an infant.
A resident of California from the
age of five years (with the exception of the period spent in study abroad)
Father Kenna attended the schools of Nevada county,
Cal., and the high school on Powell street, in San Francisco. During 1864 he
acted as secretary to Archbishop Alemany of San
Francisco, and the following year, going to Ireland, studied in St. Coleman’s
College in County Cork. Ill health obliged him to leave that institution at the
expiration of his first year and for a similar reason he discontinued his
studies in a college near Dublin after five months there. On his return to
California he regained strength in this genial climate and in July of 1867 came
to Santa Clara College as a student of philosophy. In August 1868 he entered
the novitiate of the Society of Jesus, then located at Santa Clara, where he
completed his philosophical studies. Some two years after entering the
novitiate he was assigned to duty as an instructor in the college.
Desiring to broaden the sphere of
his usefulness, in 1876 Father Kenna began the study
of theology and three years later he was consecrated to the priesthood, the
ceremony of ordination taking place in the San Francisco Cathedral, July 6,
1879, under the charge of Most Rev. Father Joseph Alemany.
In February of 1880 he was appointed president of St. Ignatius College in San
Francisco, and assumed the great responsibility of inaugurating the policy
which has since made the institution successful. July 26, 1883, he retired from
the head of that college and returned to Santa Clara College as its president
being the ninth to hold the position. Under his supervision, in 1884-85, the
old Mission Church was remodeled and restored, and the new Memorial Chapel was
commenced. Retiring from the presidency December 26, 1888, he returned to San
Francisco, where he was connected with the ministerial work of St. Ignatius
Church. In 1890 he was appointed vice-president of that College, but the following
year was transferred to Santa Clara as Spiritual Father of this educational
institution. During 1892 he was chosen parish priest of Santa Clara, the next
year was appointed vice-president of the college, and continued in the latter
place until 1897, when he was transferred to San Jose as pastor of St. Joseph’s
Roman Catholic Church. He again became president of Santa Clara College, July
13, 1899, which position he has since filled.
As an educator Father Kenna is thorough, systematic and helpful; as the head of
an institution, broad, painstaking, working not alone for the success of today
but for the prosperity of the morrow; as a spiritual adviser, sympathetic in
trouble and bereavement, wise in counsel, pointing the human soul ever upward
to the divine, seeking to uplift the fallen and cheer the distressed. As a
speaker he is fluent, choice in diction, attractive in delivery. When the
McKinley memorial service was held he was invited to deliver the address and
took advantage of the opportunity to suggest the creation of a monument fund.
Not alone among those of his own religious belief, but among people of every
doctrine he has won friends and admirers, who unite in wishing for him many
more years of useful service in the church.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1414-1415. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2017 Cecelia M. Setty.