Bishop Raymond A. Kearney: May He Rest in Peace

Bishop Raymond A. Kearney was an Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Let me give you some facts about him and then explain my connection with him. He was born on September 25, 1902, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Brooklyn on March 12, 1927, in Rome. For a brief time after his priestly ordination, he served in his first assignment at Queen of All Saints Church in Brooklyn. Almost immediately, however, his intellectual abilities were recognized, and he was assigned to pursue further studies in canon law, the law of the Catholic Church.

In 1930, he became Vice Chancellor and then Chancellor of the Diocese, a role he held until his death on October 1, 1956. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn on December 22, 1934, and was consecrated bishop on February 25, 1935, by Bishop Thomas E. Molloy. He was ordained a bishop at the very young age of 32 and died relatively young at 54.

My own connection to Bishop Kearney goes back to November 9, 1955, less than a year before he was called home to God. He was the bishop who administered the Sacrament of Confirmation at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Astoria, New York. There were about 250 children in the class being confirmed. There was one sponsor for the boys, my next-door neighbor Joseph Vento, and one sponsor for the girls, whose name I do not recall. Each candidate was given two tickets, and my parents attended. The church was filled.

Confirmation was not administered within a Mass as it is today, but during a service that concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. It was a very memorable day for me and for my classmates. I often thought of that day because it was part of a remarkable few months in my young life: having my tonsils removed in October, being confirmed in November, and then serving my first Mass as an altar server in December. That was a great deal for a 10-year-old, who also fell in love with baseball at about the same time.

I did not give much thought to Bishop Kearney until I became a bishop myself. Then I realized that what I now do for countless young people today, giving them the gifts of the Holy Spirit, is exactly what this kind and gentle bishop did for me.

Later, I had the privilege of meeting his niece, Sister Helen Kearney, C.S.J., and I told her about her uncle’s influence on me. She shared many fond memories of this important member of her family. Then, while visiting St. Helen Rectory in Howard Beach, New York, I noticed a picture of Bishop Kearney on a table in the living room. I admired it and mentioned to the pastor, Father Frank Colamaria, that Bishop Kearney had confirmed me back in 1955. Father Colamaria told me I could have the picture and card if I wished. I now keep them in a prominent place in my living room, along with two additional pictures of Bishop Kearney recently given to me by Sister Helen.

Although the high school in Brooklyn named in his honor is no longer open, his legacy lives on in my memory. He gave me the precious gift of the Holy Spirit, and that gift has guided me all these years. Rest in peace, good bishop!