| Admin_History | Kennedy was born in 1944 in Durban, South Africa, and educated by the Marist Brothers at St Henry's College. After considering entering religious life, he visited the Jesuit St Aidan's College in 1961 and was interviewed by four of the priests on the staff there. Before reaching a final decision, Kennedy carried out national service in South Africa and then worked in Durban. In August 1963 he left South Africa to enter the noviceship at Harlaxton Manor, Lincolnshire, 7 September. In 1964 he moved with the noviceship which was to be combined with the new Scottish noviceship at Juniper Green in Edinburgh. On 8 September 1965 he took his vows. The next day he and his fellow novices travelled to Heythrop College where he began his philosophy as a Jesuit Scholastic. In 1967 Kennedy asked to be released from his vows after experiencing doubts in his vocation. He returned to South Africa and trained as a Chartered Accountant. Two years later he met his wife and was married in 1971. He emigrated with his family to New Zealand in 1977. |