The Reverend F. Charles McKenna
The Reverend F. Charles McKenna died on Saturday, 4 January 2014, at Holy Family Villa
for Priests, Bethlehem, PA, at the age of 79.Born in Allentown, Father McKenna was the only child of the late Francis Charles and Ouida M. (Petit) McKenna.Father McKenna attended Thirteenth and Union Grade School, North East Junior High School, and Reading Central Catholic High School, Reading. He received his Masters Degree in American History from Villanova University, Philadelphia, PA. He studied for the Priesthood at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, PA.Father McKenna was ordained to the Priesthood on 14 May 1960 by The Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick, D.D., at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia.His first Priestly assignment was Parochial Vicar, former Saint Canicus Church, Mahanoy City, followed by Parochial Vicar, Saint Anthony of Padua Church, Easton; Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Church, Summit Hill; Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Church, Girardville; Professor, Nativity High School, Pottsville; Professor, Marian High School, Hometown; Vice Principal, Pius X High School, Roseto; Professor, Holy Name High School, Reading; Professor and Chaplain, Alvernia College, Reading; Parochial Vicar, Saint Patrick Church, Pottsville; Parochial Vicar, Holy Infancy Church, Bethlehem, and Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Church, Reading. Father McKenna retired in 1992.During the course of his Priestly Ministry, Father McKenna also served as Berks County Clergy Representative, Diocesan Board of Education.
Services: A Mass of Christian Burial for Father McKenna will be celebrated at Saint Joseph Church, 1022 North Eighth Street, Reading, Pennsylvania, by His Excellency, the Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop of Allentown, on Friday, 10 January 2014, at 11:00 AM. The Reverend E. Michael Camilli, M.S.C., will be the Homilist.Main Concelebrants will be Reverend Monsignor Gerald E. Gobitas, Secretary for Clergy, Chancellor, and Rector, Holy Family Villa for Priests; Reverend George R. Winne, Pastor, Saint Joseph Church and Saint Paul Church, Reading, and Reverend E. Michael Camilli, M.S.C. Calling Hours will be held on Friday, 10 January 2014, in Saint Joseph Church, Reading, from 9 to 11 a.m.Interment will take place at Gethsemane Cemetery and Mausoleum, 3139 Kutztown Road, Laureldale, PA.
Published in Morning Call on Jan. 8, 2014
