The Rev. Fr. James A. McKenna

Father James Aloysius McKenna, SDB, died in Charleston, S.C., at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, following a month-long illness that was eventually diagnosed as pancreatic cancer. He was 75 years old and had been a professed Salesian of Don Bosco for 55 years and a priest for 46 years.

Fr. McKenna and Fr. John Cosgrove arrived in South Carolina last June to establish a new Salesian presence, beginning their pastoral care of Transfiguration Parish in Blythewood and its mission, St. Teresa Church in Winnsboro, on July 5.

Fr. Jim McKenna was born in Jersey City, N.J., on May 9, 1951, the only child of Charles and Marie Coles McKenna. He was baptized on May 27, 1951, at St. Joseph’s Church in Jersey City and confirmed in 1963 at St. Matthew’s Church in Edison, N.J.

Jim attended Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., graduating in 1969. The Prep’s 1969 yearbook notes that Jim was active as an altar server and in the band; his favorite subject was history, and his favorite activity was “loafing.” At the Prep, he developed a close relationship with the director, Fr. Joseph Tyminski, who would later serve as his director during his theology studies and pastoral ministries in Columbus, leading toward ordination. Fr. Tyminski would once again serve as his director at Don Bosco College while Fr. Jim was treasurer.

Dr. James Scanlon, a longtime teacher and administrator at Don Bosco Prep, recalls in his inimitable style that no one was surprised by young Jim’s vocational path: “Many will remember that Jim’s relationship with Don Bosco Prep and the Salesian community goes back to the Kennedy/Johnson administration in the 1960s. I had the chance to teach Jim Latin 2 during my first year, 60 years ago. It surprised no one who knew him that he was interested in religious life and our then-director Father Joseph Tyminski assisted Jim in that period of discernment, spending his four high school years as a resident in Saint John's Hall.”

Jim entered Don Bosco College Seminary in Newton, N.J., in September 1969 as a Son of Mary (at age 18, he was considered a “late vocation”). He made his novitiate in Ipswich, Mass., where Fr. Theodore Ciampi was his master of novices. His 23 classmates included the future Bro. Bernard Dubé, Fr. Dennis Hartigan, Fr. Mark Hyde, and Fr. Stephen Schenck. They professed their first vows in Newton on September 1, 1971. Bro. Jim made his perpetual profession at St. Anthony’s Church in Elizabeth, N.J., on August 27, 1977.

Bro. Jim graduated from Don Bosco College in June 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. He completed his practical training as a teacher at Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa from 1974 to 1976.

Fr. Jim was ordained in Columbus, Ohio, on May 24, 1980. In June of that year, he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, where he had studied theology since 1976 while residing with the Salesian community in downtown Columbus.

Fr. Jim began his priestly ministry as associate pastor at Mary Help of Christians Parish in Manhattan (1980–1982). He was then given the first of several financial assignments, serving as treasurer of Don Bosco College in Newton and of the Salesian community there (1982–1988). He would later serve in financial roles as province development director in New Rochelle (1989–1990), treasurer in Tampa (1990–1991), province treasurer in New Rochelle (1991–1994), and assistant in Don Bosco Prep’s development office in Ramsey (2021–2026).

He returned to the classroom for one year at his high school alma mater in Ramsey (1988–1989), where he taught religion and provided guidance counseling. For nine years, he enjoyed serving as a parish priest: four years as pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Port Chester, N.Y. (1994–1998), and five years as youth minister at St. Philip Benizi Parish in Belle Glade, Fla. (1998–2003). His final assignment was as assistant pastor at the Salesians’ new ministry in Blythewood in 2026.

In addition to his parish assignments, he served as director of two major Salesian institutions: Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, La. (2003–2011), and the Marian Shrine–Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw–Stony Point (2011–2021). In Marrero, he helped the school recover from administrative difficulties and, later, from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. He oversaw the completion of All Saints Hall, a new classroom building, updated numerous other facilities, installed new lighting and security systems, and introduced computer technology to the students.

At the time of his 40th anniversary of religious profession, Fr. Jim testified that his life was centered on “community life, prayer, and celebrating Mass,” and maintained that he had experienced the rich reward of seeing God at work in his Salesian ministry. “40 years of religious profession and 31 years as a priest have given me great joy in contributing to the Salesian mission for the young.”

Upon celebrating the 40th anniversary of his ordination, he reflected on how quickly the years had passed, saying, “being a Salesian priest has been a great fit for me vocationally. The many places being of service have given me a wider view of how God in this world is present in His church and sacraments.”

Fr. Jim occasionally appeared in print. In 1996, he contributed a reflection about the Sermon on the Mount to Catholic New York’s weekly Scripture column. Following the election of Pope Francis in 2013, Westchester County’s Journal News solicited Fr. Jim’s thoughts. He told the paper “that Francis appears to be a man who knows exactly what he wants to do as pope. ‘He is a new-world person and has new-world ideas. He has a way of expressing himself that is for the people. He wants to be with the people and, I suppose, listen to the people.’”

Those who knew Fr. Jim repeatedly recall his welcoming nature. Former Salesian Bob Heilmann states, “He made you feel like you belonged.” Salesian Cooperator Andrea Zimmerman recalls: “Whether at the Marian Shrine or at Don Bosco Prep, whenever I encountered Fr. Jim, he would run over to greet me with a big smile, a warm hug, and the words, ‘If you need anything, just reach out.’ With his constant welcome and generous service, he exemplified the Salesian Home.”

According to Corpus Christi’s Deacon Mike Gizzo, Fr. Jim’s welcoming spirit extended even into the homes of others: “My wife and I invited the priests of the parish to dinner several times. We always had plenty of food. Each dinner, Fr. Jim would help to serve everyone else and never served himself until everyone had what they wanted. My youngest son has followed that example and has done the same thing ever since.”

Many recall Fr. Jim’s warm and friendly welcome. Former Salesian Fr. Roy Shelly says simply that “he was a great friend to all and always with a supportive smile and cheerful word.” Deacon Gizzo remembers that “as pastor, he always came out in the morning and afternoon to greet students as they entered and left the grammar school we had. He did the same after every single Mass for parishioners on the weekends. And he always had a big smile, indicating how much he enjoyed it.”

During Fr. Jim’s years as director of the Marian Shrine, a Korean ministry, Reborn Young Christ, flourished on the property. Simon Song, who eventually joined the Salesians for a few years, fondly recalls: “Fr. Jim was always generous to me and the Korean community at the Marian Shrine and the RYC movement. When I was in initial formation, I consistently observed him checking in on the young men in formation and always encouraging us.”

Don Bosco Prep’s Dr. Scanlon emphasizes that “Father Jim made us all feel important, and that’s what mattered to him.” He recalls Fr. Jim’s relationship with the school’s employees: “At one of our luncheons earlier this quarter, I was talking to some of our cafeteria collaborators and, unsolicited, they told me how much they missed Father Jim—just being among them, helping, particularly as we wrapped up those luncheons on the third floor of Savio Hall.”

Fr. Abraham Feliciano recalls both Fr. Jim’s welcoming spirit and his genuine friendliness: “When I was a newly ordained priest, I went to Marrero to officiate the wedding of a former student for the first time. Fr. Jim McKenna was then the director of Archbishop Shaw High School. He could not have been more welcoming, accommodating, and kind: he provided me with lodging and a vehicle, took me out to eat, and, after the wedding was over, sent me off with an ordination gift.

“During my time on the provincial council, our annual joint meetings with the San Francisco Province were hosted every two years at Stony Point. At that time, Fr. Jim was the director of the community, and he left no stone unturned in ensuring the most welcoming, hospitable, and fraternal reception of our confreres from the West. Those gatherings always featured a festive meal with a full menu spanning savory appetizers to delicious desserts.

“Fr. Jim had a gift for welcoming others. So, it was no surprise that during our time together at Don Bosco Prep (2021–2026), the Advancement Office regularly tapped him to receive guests at the school, give tours, or reestablish connections with alumni. Within the Salesian community, his good cheer, affable nature, and lighthearted sense of humor made him a joy to be around.”

Blaise Perrello, another former Salesian, affirms, “I thought of Jim as a model Salesian priest.”

Andrea Zimmerman offers a specific example of his priestly ministry: “I had the pleasure of attending a day of recollection in North Haledon organized by the Cooperator unit one Lent, where Fr. Jim was the keynote speaker. I still remember his reflection. He invited all of us, about 75 to 100 people, to come to the front of the altar and choose a character in the story of the Way of the Cross/Crucifixion with whom we identified. He consistently engaged with people. He was a creative teacher and very humble.”

Fr. Jim’s willingness to accommodate others sometimes led him to take on unexpected roles. Bob Heilmann recalls: “On my wedding day 50 years ago at MHC [Tampa], not only did I have 3 priests preside but I had Brother Jim [in practical training] step up and be our bartender at the reception. He was good, but he did not have to change any water to wine.”

Mike Gizzo recalls another example of Fr. Jim’s flexibility during his time in Port Chester: “When I was teaching 8th grade religious ed, I organized a class trip to a homeless shelter to distribute toys just before Christmas. The students were nervous about it. Fr. Jim joined us and when he stepped into the van with all the students and he noticed their apprehension, he said simply ‘Mary Help of Christians, pray for us. What more do we need?’ You could feel the tension ease, and we had a great time at the shelter.”

Everyone knew Fr. Jim possessed a wonderful, quiet sense of humor. Deacon Gizzo recalls a delightful occasion at Fr. Jim’s going-away party when he was leaving Corpus Christi: “All the parish priests and sisters came along with several parishioners. Fr. Jim posed for a picture sitting in my brother-in-law’s red Porsche, waving goodbye out of the driver window.”

Fr. Jim’s novitiate classmate, Bro. Bernard Dubé, who also lived in community with him on several occasions, offers a fitting tribute: “Jim was kind, generous, cheerful, and supportive; he was a good director and financial administrator. He was all around a wonderful priest, a wonderful Salesian, a good community confrere, and a good friend.”

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel.