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	Church Bids Farewell to a Beloved Priest By Maureen O'Donnell Chicago Sun-Times June 5, 2006 http://www.suntimes.com/output/religion/cst-nws-priest05.html It wasn't just the big things that endeared Father Bill Kenneally to his parishioners, like the time he challenged Cardinal Francis George on the church's handling of child sex abuse allegations against a member of the clergy. Little things made his congregation love him, like making sure that 10-year-old David Brucks -- who is allergic to wheat -- receives a Communion wafer made of rice. Father Kenneally's retirement, after 22 years as pastor of St. Gertrude's Roman Catholic Church, was celebrated Sunday at a mass for the priest, who jokingly refers to himself as "El Presidente." "I have problems with the Church. I get very frustrated, but my church is here," said Kenneally, 71. "The way you treat each other . . . you're the Church for me." Members of the parish, at 1420 W. Granville, gave him multiple standing ovations as they praised Kenneally for his devotion to social justice, community organizing, feeding the homeless, educating the young and including everyone. Bob Dwyer thanked him for making gay and lesbian Catholics feel welcome at the church in the Edgewater neighborhood. "This isn't a life choice for us. We're just being who God made us," Dwyer, 49, said from the pulpit. "You've given us a gift. . . .You have allowed us to practice our faith here in this community." 'He thinks everybody is equal' Kenneally confided to the packed church that he quit drinking 16 years ago, and said he owes his sobriety, in part, to the love he received from his congregation. Once he retires in July, he plans to move to Beverly, where he will be available to help at a local parish. He'll take it easy after a bout of colon cancer and heart trouble. Kenneally, the son of Irish immigrants, grew up in Maternity BVM parish in Humboldt Park. His mother was from Balla, County Mayo, and his father was from Ballyporeen, County Tipperary. His wise-cracking style was in evidence as he greeted the faithful on the church steps after mass. "That's what I wanted to wear," he said to Bernard Ndiwe, 44, who was decked out in the damask robes of his native Nigeria. "He thinks everybody is equal," Ndiwe said. "He has that welcoming mind." Peter Tunney, 75, from Westport, Ireland, wiped away tears as he contemplated Kenneally's departure. "I hate to see him go. I ushered for him for 20 years," Tunney said. Kenneally lightened the mood when he noticed Tunney was walking his new dog, Sean, a Kerry blue terrier. "Every time I leave, you get a dog," Kenneally said. Friends credited him for being present at their sorrows as well as their joys. "When I was in the hospital a couple of times, I opened my eyes and there he was," said Claire DeProva, who graduated eighth grade at St. Gert's in 1947. At a mass, he gave comfort to some women who had abortions when he said, " 'These women should be loved,' " said Jean Swoboda, 82, a parishioner since 1955. "He's just so open to everybody." Speaking out Kenneally made news in February when he said George should resign if he impeded the removal of Father Daniel McCormack, a priest facing criminal charges in the alleged molestation of several boys. Knowing he was set to retire "does free you up" to speak one's mind, Kenneally said. But the backing of a supportive congregation helps, he said. "One of the problems with the [Chancery office] is they feel the media is the enemy," he said. "They think there is a concerted effort from the media about the child abuse [scandal] to bring down the church. That's [reporters'] investigative function." Kenneally said he feels a duty to speak up when he chafes at top-down instructions to scale back on eulogies or require bows before Communion. "It doesn't work that way," Kenneally said. "Kindness, openness, acts of charity, [they] grow the church." mdonnell@suntimes.com
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