Br.John Massias to Fr.John Mckenna
Fr.John McKenna OP was born on the 9th of September on the year of 1932 in Camberwell, Victoria a suburb of Melbourne.He was named Kevin Nicholas McKenna. However he was Baptized on the 25th September, 1932 and grew up at St. Dominic’s Parish.
He grew up there and eventually started School at St. Dominic’s Primary School run and staffed by the Dominican Sisters.
After Grade 3 he went to St. Kevin's college, Toorak– a Tram ride away from Home. This was run by the Irish Christian Brothers But all the Brothers were Australians. He completed his Primary School and did his 3 years in Secondary School then in 1949 he entered the Dominicans at East Camberwell and he joined to be a co-operator Brother and he was given the Name , Brother John Massias but after a couple of years he felt he had a call to the Dominican Priesthood and was accepted if he could get his Latin up to Standard. That was done and he started a new Novitiate and then the 4 years study in St. Dominic's. Then off to Sydney for 4 more years of study at Wahrooga.
He was ordained after 2 years in Sydney and 2 more of study followed. In 1961 he got his first job as a Priest/Grade6 teacher at Blackfriars, South Australia. He was also the Bursar— Bookkeeper for both the priory and the School. In 1966 he was send to Canberra to work on their Parish, helping FR. Kevin Condon. In 2 years his Great wish was granted and he was send to the Mission here in Diocese of Gizo in Match 1968. His first Job is to help Fr. O’grady at Nila. He loved it! -2nd year his first 6 months at Sirovanga and Mid year he was sent to Wagina ( August 1969 ) This was his real life’work and the joy of his heart. He has 2 short times back at Nila, one in the 1970’s and the last is at the start of 1990’s. He spend 1996 as a chaplain at Vanga but the rest of his time was at Wagina. True he had a while at Moli but his work was to look after all the Kiribati's in the Diocese but none of the Kiribati’s were anywhere near the numbers at Wagina, so Wagina got most of his time!
He eventually asked his Boss to move him from Wagina since his ears couldn’t hear things at important meetings so he could no longer advise the leaders. He felt that was important to be a help in the village and the Parish. So in 2000, he was moved to Loga and He's been there ever since.
He helped on the farm. He did Bookkeeping and helped with new young Dominicans. His time of working on the farm has dropped from about 7 hours per day to only 1 this days!
His Big Boss, The provincial, has just visited and he has decided to call Fr, John McKenna back to live in Australia again where he can quickly get medical help if needed. So after celebrating his 50 years as a priest on 8th December 2008 he will come back here, say his goodbye and pack his bag and vanish from the beautiful Solomon islands. He will leave but they (diocese) will be in my (his) mind, he said “My heart and Prayers everyday”
Fr.John McKenna OP heard confessions everyday before Mass and took communion everyday possible to the sick and the old. He recommends this practice to all our young Priests.