Circle of Friends Karen and Ken Kenworthy, Jr.
by Michael Prescott II
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the College, and seeing the devotion of the seminarians and priests who study there, the Kenworthys were quite impressed. Following their time at the Dinner, they decided to become more involved in our crucial ministry.
ince it was founded over a century and a half ago, the Pontifical North American College has remained focused on providing a rich formation experience to seminarians and priests. Throughout the years, the College has been very fortunate in having generous friends and benefactors step forward to dedicate their prayers and resources in an effort to sustain our important work. Ken and Karen Kenworthy are two such friends.
When speaking about the North American College, Karen highL’Osservatore Romano lighted the “wonderful, unique Friends of the College Karen and Ken Kenworthy, Jr., with His Emiexperience” that the College ofnence Donald Cardinal Wuerl ‘67 (Washington), meet Pope Benedict fers, giving seminarians a greatXVI with other members of the Papal Foundation. er perspective of the Catholic Church – an experience that cannot truly be replicated anywhere else. Of particular note is the location of the campus, in close proxCurrently residing in Edmond, Oklahoma, Ken and Karen Kenimity to the heart of the Church and to Pope Benedict XVI, the worthy have four children and two grandchildren. The Kenworsuccessor to Saint Peter. thys are engaged in the domestic Energy and Production Industry, which is vital to our American economy. Ken and Karen have been members of the Southwest Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem for eleven years. The Kenworthys are strongly involved in the pro-life movement, supporting Birth Choice, crisis pregnancy centers throughout Oklahoma, and Catholic Charities and Foundation for Life in Tampa Bay. Also, in Oklahoma City they are involved in establishing the Holy Innocents Chapel, which would offer, right next to the abortion clinic, twentyfour hour adoration for an end to abortion. They are active promoters of religious vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. In addition to their enthusiasm for priestly formation, and Catholic education in general, they are involved in various works of charity to alleviate the suffering of the poor and homeless in their local community. For their witness of faith and dedication to the Church’s charitable and vocational ministries, the Kenworthys were invited to join the Papal Foundation. It was Ken and Karen’s connection to the Papal Foundation that eventually led them to one of the Pontifical North American College’s annual Rector’s Dinners in Rome. Upon their introduction to
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The Kenworthys have come to know several alumni of the North American College in their local church, first through their associate pastor, and then through a former Vice Rector of the NAC, as well as other priests and seminarians studying in Rome. These contacts have given them firsthand experience of the impact made by the College in the life of a seminarian, and how that impact positively affects his future life and ministry as a priest. They have visited the College numerous times since their first introduction and, through their generosity, have enabled us to develop even further the formation programs here in place. As the College’s mission continues to flourish, it is always good to know that we have friends like Ken and Karen Kenworthy, who will whole-heartedly devote themselves to the significant formational work that we strive to accomplish. Just as the Kenworthys applaud our work and share the news of our mission with others, we thank them for their dedicated support of the Pontifical North American College. We look forward to seeing them again soon in Rome, and to sharing with them the many good things occurring in our community.
The Pontifical North American College M agazine