Father Bill Kennedy has seen it all in his long life of growing up in Crookwell and serving communities as a priest.
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He had a chance to reflect this week at a double celebration, that of his 90th birthday and the 60th anniversary of his ordination.
The gathering, at Canberra's Lanigan House for retired priests - brought together family, friends and colleagues.
Father Kennedy is something of a favourite son to Crookwell.
Niece Vivienne Flanagan said his course was set from an early age.
"He was baptised at Saint Mary's church in Crookwell where he served as an altar boy, learnt the Latin Mass, made his first confession, received his First Communion, was confirmed and ordained a priest," she said.
He was the second child of Patrick and Agatha Kennedy (nee Loughnan) of Crookwell. His siblings, Pauline and Bryan, were also born in July and as children, shared their birthday celebrations.
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He was branded a 'scallywag' from an early age. Family recounted how he once rolled a cigarette for his father with a small firecracker inside. Then there was the time he set up a fair in the back shed where he charged for rides on a merry-go-round built with a plank threaded through the spindles of his father's office chair.
"Those who know him well know that sense of mischief, showmanship, and financial good sense are still in him and serve him well," Mrs Flanagan said.
Bill worked for a time at the Commonwealth Bank. While posted at Kogarah, a priest suggested he consider a religious vocation. He subsequently studied at Saint Columbia at Springwood and Saint Patrick's seminary, Manly.
Father Kennedy was ordained in July, 1960 and chose to serve in the archdiocese where his great uncle had served as the first bishop.
"His first duty after the ordination was the baptism of his niece, Margot Kennedy, and the first marriage he celebrated was of his cousin, Allan Kennedy to Marie Croker at Taralga in 1961," Mrs Flanagan said.
He served as assistant priest and assisted elderly parish priests as administrator within the diocese until being appointed to his first parish at Kambah in 1974. He also served at Young, Cootamundra, Murrumburrah, Braidwood, Braddon, Kambah and O'Connor parishes.
At Kambah, his sound financial skills were put to good use. He oversaw construction of Saint Thomas the Apostle Primary School, which opened in 1977. A church soon followed. He baptised 1750 babies in the parish.
Father Kennedy also helped with Diocesan finances and assisted his good friend, Father Brian Maher as archivist.
He served at Kambah until 1994 and left the parish in a sound financial position, Mrs Flanagan said.
Father Kennedy's service to the community and his work with migrants was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1995.
His next post was at Saint Joseph's Parish, O'Connor.
He has also experienced great setbacks, including in 2004, aged 74, when a stranger bashed him after he had left a Saint Vincent de Paul meeting. Two doctors at the meeting immediately assisted him and helped to save his life but he suffered a broken nose, damaged eye socket and two black eyes. He subsequently underwent reconstructive surgery
"When Bill was sufficiently recovered and able to travel, he returned to Crookwell and asked Reverend Peter Murphy to anoint him and returned to his parish and resumed his duties," Mrs Flanagan said.
Those who know him well know that sense of mischief, showmanship, and financial good sense are still in him and serve him well.
- Vivienne Flanagan - niece
More heartache was to follow in 2007 when the Parish Centre at O'Connor was destroyed by fire. Although devastated by the fact, Father Kennedy loaned his expertise to reconstruction and financial management. The new hall was opened in August, 2009.
Since Father Kennedy's retirement in September, 2016, he has lived at Lanigan House, the home for retired priests at Forrest. He continues to serve the community as chaplain at Clare Holland House, with the Canberra Serra Club, and assists by holding Masses in parishes where priests are taking leave.
Only last year, family called on him to celebrate the marriage of his great nephew, Blair Flanagan to Susan Shepherd. He also baptised his great great nephew, Charlie William Kennedy in April, 2020.
Father Kennedy has lost none of his spark. Asked at his birthday and ordination celebration why he became a priest, he replied with a twinkle in his eye.
"Because of the pay and good conditions."
- With thanks to Vivienne Flanagan for supplying information for this article.
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