Rev. George McKenna, Oldest Priest In Archdiocese, Dies

CHICAGO - Father George McKenna, who was the oldest living Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, died last week. He was 99. Father George, who was known locally in the neighborhood during his years at St. Barnabas and Christ the King and nearby at St. Catherine of Alexandria in Oak Lawn, was a priest in the archdiocese for 75 years.

Father George was ordained into the priesthood on May 6, 1944 after graduating from St. Theodore, Quigley Seminary North and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary.

He spent much of his early years as a teacher at Maryville Academy and Quigley North and South. His time in the neighborhood began with a five-year stint as a priest at Christ the King from 1963 to 1968. He was then pastor at both St. Barnabas (1970-1975) and St. Catherine (1978-1982).

St. Barnabas will host his lying-in-state from 2-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 and from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 1. The funeral mass will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, with internment to take place later at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

For the last eight years, Father George regularly maintained a blog. During that time, he lived at the Bishop Timothy Lyne Residence for retired priests in Palos Park.

He was also an accomplished author. From his obituary:

"Fr. George is fondly remembered as the author of four books on the “3-Minute Homily,” publisher of his personal blog “God is Good” that reached 147 countries, and for his exceptional golf skills that made him 8-time champion at the Chicago Clergy Annual Tournament."

A 2016 feature in the Chicago Catholic highlighted his time as the founder and chaplain of the Chicago Midway Airport Chapel.

Photo via Curley Funeral Home