On Wednesday, March 2nd, at the beginning of Lent, Father James McKenna, LC, departed to the house of the Father. While the Church prepares us with the imposition of ashes to accompany Our Lord on this Lenten journey, Father James had completed his pilgrimage in this world.

Father James was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1947. He entered the Novitiate of the Legionaries of Christ in 1965, in the same city. He took his perpetual vows in 1974 in Monterrey, NL, and was ordained a priest in 1981 in Rome, Italy.

He was director of Mano Amiga School in Monterrey, director of the Cumbres Bosques Institute, and of the Irish Institute. He collaborated as a spiritual advisor at the Dublin OAK Academy; as a spiritual director, confessor, and formator in the novitiates of Dublin and Monterrey, as well as of the Vocational Center of Monterrey and the Female Student Center of Monterrey. He was also a spiritual advisor and counselor at Mano Amiga Santa Catarina School and chaplain of Mano Amiga Monterrey.

In recent years, he served as a spiritual director and confessor for the ladies’ sections of Regnum Christi in the locations of Monterrey Valle Alto and Monterrey Cumbres.

Father James was a great friend, in fact, my best Legionary friend. He was very close to the Consecrated Laity since his time as a prefect of studies at the Irish in Mexico. Here in Monterrey, I shared with Father James memories, anecdotes, and concerns, enjoying Irish tea with cookies. He loved to paint watercolors in his free time. We keep one of his works in the reception of our community. Father James, thank you for being a great friend and Legionary! (Dermot Tennyson, Consecrated Laity of Regnum Christi).

Father James had health issues for several years, but this did not hinder his missionary spirit, which kept him sharing audio reflections via Facebook and WhatsApp groups, even during moments of rest.

At the beginning of 2022, he contracted COVID, which weakened him even more. Thanks to medical attention and the care of his community, he was able to overcome it, but he was left with some sequelae that worsened over the last few weeks despite the medical care he received.

Father James had a significant journey as a spiritual director and formator in the communities and apostolic works where he served, leaving a pleasant memory and a sense of gratitude.

I met Father James during his last stage at Mano Amiga. He supported us in the spiritual formation of the girls, with great dedication and concern for souls. Mano Amiga and I, personally, have much to thank this great priest for (Michelle Gow, Consecrated of Regnum Christi).

A condolence book has been opened for those who wish to share a memory of Father James at this link.

On March 3rd, from 8:00 a.m., Father James’s body was venerated in the chapel of the Monterrey Novitiate. Present were the novices, Legionaries from the Monterrey communities, consecrated persons, and ladies from the Regnum Christi section in Monterrey. Later, the coffin was transferred to the parish of Our Lady Queen of Angels for the funeral Mass, in San Pedro (Nuevo León). Many members of Regnum Christi from Monterrey, from the schools, and Mano Amiga also attended, along with students from the Vocational Center of Monterrey and candidates of the consecrated women of Regnum Christi and Laity of Regnum Christi. Additionally, a large group followed the funeral Mass via Facebook Live, including Father James’s family from Ireland.