Marist fathers and brothers in New Zealand have elected David Kennerley as their new provincial.
Born in 1955 in Clive, Hawkes Bay, David enjoyed family life with his parents, Harry and Val, and his brothers, Philip and Peter.
Educated at St Joseph’s Primary School, Hastings and Napier Boys High School, in 1975 he joined the Marist seminary at Greenmeadows. He was professed a Marist in 1978. and ordained a priest in Hastings by Bishop John Rodgers in 1982.
For a number of years David was on the staff at St Patrick’s College Silverstream, during which time he qualified with a M.Ed in Guidance and Counselling.
At an early stage he was selected to be the Marist Fathers and Brothers Novice master, which saw him form young men as Marists in Hawkes Bay and Fiji.
Then in 1999, and based in Boston Massachusetts he became the first Society of Mary international English language novice master.
After another period as the international English language novitiate master, but this time based in Sydney, in 2006 David returned to New Zealand to live and minister at St Mary of the Angels parish, Wellington.
In 2009 he joined the Marist spirituality ministry based at Pa Maria, Wellington, where he is engaged in retreat work and reflection days for individuals and groups. He is also part of the Cenacle Retreat in Daily Life Team.
As well as his current ministry at Pa Maria, David is also engaged in ministry with Rachael’s Vineyard.
2011 saw David elected to the Society of Mary New Zealand provincial council and he now becomes the New Zealand province’s Provincial-Elect.
David has a wide education. As well as his M.Ed in Guidance and Counselling, as a seminarian he obtained both a B.A. from Victoria University, Wellington, and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the Angelicum, University, Rome.
A new Provincial Council is to be elected to work with him and together they will begin their ministry in February 2014