Bio: McKenna Thomas Michael – Ordained (1961)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: McKenna, O'Connell, Hardinger, Moorehead, Coke, King, Scheible, Rudolph, Bertz, Weyer, McNeely

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 18 May 1961

Michael Thomas McKenna, 26, born December 14, 1934, in Greenwood (Clark Co., Wis.), is the son of William McKenna and the late Annabelle (Moorehead) McKenna of St. Anthony's Parish, Loyal.

Father McKenna has a brother, David, of Loyal, and two sisters, Mrs. Douglas (Mary) O'Donnell and Mrs. Marvin (Agnes) Hardinger, both of Marshfield. Brothers William, George, Robert, and sisters Rita Ann and Ann are deceased.

Upon completion of his elementary education at St. Mary's School, Greenwood, Father entered Holy Cross Seminary, La Crosse, where he undertook both his secondary and college education.

After his eight years at Holy Cross Seminary, he completed his theological course at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Md. Father's parents move from St. Mary's Parish, Greenwood, to St. Anthony's Parish, Loyal, in 1950. Father McKenna is the first native son of the Greenwood parish to be ordained a priest.

Father McKenna will celebrate his First Solemn Mass at St. Anthony's Loyal, on Sunday, May 21, at 11 a.m.. Father James E. Coke, professor at Holy Cross Seminary, will deliver the sermon. Father Norbert E. King, his pastor, will serve as assistant priest.

Father Michael T. Scheible is deacon; Father Thomas Rudolph, Sub-Decason; Father Edward Bertz, master of ceremonies. First year seminarians at Holy Cross Seminary, Michael McNeely and Edward Weyer, both of Loyal, will be thurifers.

The newly ordained priest will give benediction at 3 p.m. on the same day, followed by a reception until 6 p.m. in the parish hall.

Father McKenna will offer Mass at St. Mary's Greenwood, on Sunday, May 28th, at 9:00 a.m. This will be the graduation Mass and exercises for the 8th grade students at St. Mary's School.