Father Kennedy was born in Belfast and attended St Malachy’s College. He studied Philosophy and Ancient and Medieval History at The Queen’s University Belfast, and then was sent to study Theology at the Irish College in Rome, attending the PontificalGregorian University. He was ordained in Rome by Bishop Agnellus Andrew in March 1981. On his return to the Diocese of Down & Connor he served as curate in Castlewellan, County Down, and then Glenravel inCountyAntrim. In 1985 he was sent to pursue post-graduate studies in sacramental theology at the Institute Catholique in Paris. He returned to Belfast to serve inSt Paul’s Parish on the Falls Road in Belfast. In 1990 he was enrolled as a member of the Dunboyne Establishment of the Pontifical University of St Patrick at Maynooth as a Doctoral student. In 1994 he was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity on his Thesis on the Early Irish Liturgy. Following his doctoral studies he served as curate in St Bernadette’s in east Belfast and in 1998 he was appointed as parish priest of Sacred Heart Parish in northBelfast. In 2005 he was appointed parish priest of the parish of Blairis, (Lisburn). In August of 2006 he was appointed as Administrator of the Cathedral and is also the Vicar Forane for the Cathedral Deaney of Parishes.
