REVEREND JAMES GEORGE MCKENNA “FATHER JIM”

Born February 14, 1936 in Springfield, Missouri and passed away May 27, 2015 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Preceded in death by his parents, George E. and Eunice Stark McKenna; brothers William and Eugene McKenna, sisters Mary Beale and Anna Marie Kniffin, sister-in-law Pearl McKenna, and great niece Andrea McKenna. Survived by brothers John McKenna, M.D. and Brother David McKenna, M.M., sister Teresa (Ron) Erken, sisters-in-law Dorothy McKenna and Mary Ann McKenna. “Uncle Father Jim” was greatly loved by numerous nieces and nephews and their spouses, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. He will be missed by his “adopted family” in Ciudad Juarez: Angel, Juanita, Danay and Jaime Hernandez who took him into their home and family, lovingly providing care as his health declined.

Father Jim graduated from St. Agnes High School in 1953. In 1957, he received his Bachelors degree from Conception Abbey College in Missouri and then entered St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in St. Agnes Cathedral on May 25, 1961. He served at several parishes in the Diocese of Dallas until 1967, when he began 25 years of missionary work in Peru and Central America. His work included serving in the war torn Nicaragua during the Sandinista-Contra conflict. When he returned to the USA, he participated in the Pastors for Peace caravan to Central America and Cuba, as well as the annual protest of the SOA in Fort Benning, GA. While in Dallas, he assisted Fr. Timothy Gollob at Holy Cross Catholic Church, where he touched the lives of the parishioners who called him "Padre Jaime." He was involved with the Dallas Peace Center and in 1993 he and Fr. Gollob shared the Peacemaker of the Year award for their work helping to provide a haven for Central American refugees in Dallas.

In 1999, he went to live in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico to continue his humanitarian mission among the Hispanic people. There he reconnected and worked with missionary friends he met in Peru, Fr. Peter Hinde, O.Carm and Sr. Betty Campbell, RSM who founded the Tabor House (Casa Tabor) which ministers to the needy of Cd. Juarez.

In 2011, Fr. Jim went to Maryknoll, New York to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination with his youngest brother, David , who was also celebrating his 50th year as a Maryknoll Brother.

Father Jim was a humble and faithful servant of God with a passion for the poor, human right, peace and social justice. He dedicated his life to working with the impoverished and oppressed of Latin and South American countries.


If desired, memorial contributions may be directed to Cross Family Center, c/o Fr. Tim Gollob, 4906 Bonnie View Rd., Dallas, TX 75241 or to Annunciation House, 815 Myrtle Ave., El Paso, TX 79901 or www.annunciationhouse.org.

The Funeral Mass was held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2015 in Holy Cross Catholic Church, 5004 Bonnie View, Dallas, TX. with Most Rev. J. Douglas Deshotel, Celebrant and Rev. Timothy Gollob, Homilist.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday Sept. 18, 2015 in St. Agnes Cathedral with burial next to his beloved parents, George and Eunice McKenna to follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.

Below is an article an article about Fr. Jim from Texas Catholic columnist, Fr. Timothy Gollob.

Missionary priest leaves behind legacy of love, faith
By Father Timothy Gollob
Special to The Texas Catholic
Several weeks ago, Father James George McKenna died at the home of a humble family in Ciudad Juárez in Mexico. He died as he had lived, in the midst of a people suffering pain and violence, but still full of faith and of love.
It was interesting and prophetic that the scripture readings that week were from the book of Sirach in the Old Testament. They declared, “These were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten.” Then the Gospel of Mark informed us that Jesus was vehement in fighting those who oppressed the poor.
Father Jim McKenna was one of those godly men who heard the call of Cardinal Cushing’s St. James Society, which sent priests from North America to Latin America. Father John Mitchell was the first from the diocese of Dallas to answer the call and after a few years he had been in a parish that needed help. He came home and asked for volunteers. Father Jim responded from his assignment in Tyler to go to Peru.
There he remained for 20 years. He was so actively involved in the campesino campaign of land reform, that his life was in danger and he had to hide out in a poor barrio of Lima. Later, the Bishop of Puno had him work in Lampa Chica to protect his parishioners caught in the middle of warring factions.
Later in the 1980s, he joined Father Jim Feltz in Nicaragua as civil war swept over that nation as Contras battled Sandanistas.
The next decade, he was in Chiapas, Mexico, to assist Dom Samuel Ruiz in the conflict of the Zapatistas with the army.
Even after he returned to the United States, it was to join Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois to protest the training of soldiers from El Salvador at the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Ga.
At the time when the Pastors for Peace came with their caravan headed for Cuba, he was with them on the famous little yellow school bus which was stopped at the border of Mexico and detained for 26 days before being allowed to journey on to the Island. For his perseverance, he was honored to meet Fidel Castro and gave a graphic answer to that leader’s question about Catholic Confirmation.
From 1999, Father McKenna lived in a tiny place in Juarez. He read and prayed and walked the neighborhood. At times, he would celebrate Mass on one side of the fence dividing Juarez from El Paso as priests from Texas celebrated Mass on their side. Communion through the fence was a sign of reconciliation and unity.
He delighted in his friends Joyce and Mac Hall, Peter and Betty, Mark Snider and his wife and children, and especially his mother and brothers and sisters
Just before Father McKenna’s death, Archbishop Oscar Romero was beatified. He was one of Father Jim’s heroes. Now they both can pray together for the peace of Christ to come to the countries they served and loved.

Father Timothy Gollob is the pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Oak Cliff.