Fr. Kenneth J. Nelan, osfc
Ordained Priest
~ 7 October 2001
~ under the American Catholic Churches in the United States
~~ by Bishop Michael B. Norton, Hon D.D.
~~ Assisted by Archbishop Lawrence J. Harms, Hon D.D.
~~ Assisted by Bishop J.J. Johnson, D.D.
Current Faculties
~ Most Rev. Anthony Hash, OSb, Presiding Bishop
~ United American Catholic Church
Sacred Wandering
~ Director of Sacred Wandering
~ Director of the Pastoral Center at Sacred Wandering
~ Director/Lead Psychotherapist at Counseling at Sacred Wandering
Holy Vows
~ The Order of the Servant Franciscans – 12 April 2008 – 2011
~ Renewed December, 2010 under Companions of Saints Francis and Dominic (CSFD) 2011 – 2014
~ Lifetime Vows 6 June, 2014 under the Order of Preachers, Old Catholic (OPoc) 2014 – 2020
~ Vows transferred to the Order of St.s Francis and Clare (osfc) 2020 – Present
Fr. Kenn’s discernment process began when he was a child and was accepted into the Diocese of Orange County to attend Seminary High School, however his father challenged him to attend a public school. After attending public school, Fr. Kenn left the religious world and entered the secular till at last he reengaged with his calling in the mid 1990’s. He attended Cardinal Stritch University and Sacred Heart School of Theology from 1996 through 2000 for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, but left the Roman seminary for something more – pastoral.
In 2001, Fr. Kenn found, investigated, and was ordained in the American Catholic Church in the United States, but only after he and his soon-to-be wife built and served at an independent Catholic community in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There they served the disenfranchised for 3 years before transferring the parish into the capable hands of one of his fellow priests. Fr. Kenn and his wife moved to Arizona in 2004 where they both founded and served a special “in-the-field” mission parish that continued the spirit of healing, teaching, and ministering to those in need while also serving a more migrant population; however, he left the ACCUS after much prayer and careful discernment. In August of 2007, Fr. Kenn entered an autonomous Franciscan order to more closely follow a path of Holistic Spirituality and in February of 2008 he professed vows. Later that same year, Fr. Kenn began a discernment process trying to understand where God was leading him and in 2010 he applied to, and was accepted into the Companions of Saints Francis and Dominic – healers and preachers. In the early half of 2011 Fr. Kenn and his wife moved back to Wisconsin where they continue serving the people of God. At that time, Fr. Kenn felt called to a greater ministerial need and applied to, and was accepted into the Old Catholic Churches and the Order of Preachers, Old Catholic. In June of 2020, Fr. Kenn was released from the OCCI and was offered consolation from seven jurisdictions. Through much prayer and some personal healing, Fr. Kenn joined a group of priests who live their callings of service to ALL of God’s people.
Fr. Kenn is a licensed psychotherapist in the State of Wisconsin and is nationally certified through the National Board of Certified Counselors. He serves the disenfranchised, marginalized, and other members of the community.
Religious Curriculum Vitae
United American Catholic Church
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1 October, 2020 – Present 1 Jan, 2010 – Present |
Old Catholic Churches International
Order of Preachers, Old Catholic (Under the OCCI)
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American Old Catholic Church (OCCA)
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Discernment Sabbatical
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Order of the Servant Franciscans
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20 July 2007 – 5 Aug 2009 |
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American Catholic Church in the United States
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7 Oct 2001 – 14 May 2004
14 May 2004 – 19 July 2007 |
Seminarian for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah
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1996 – 2000 |
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Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah
Special dispensation to function as a subdeacon given in June 1998 to assist pastor of St. Francis Parish |
1993-1998 (Summers and Winters in seminary were spent at the parish) |
Education (Accredited)
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UW-Milwaukee (Graduate)
GPA – 3.85 |
Fall 2014 – Spring 2016
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UW- Milwaukee (Undergraduate)
GPA – 3.82 Graduated with Honors – Summa Cum Laude Board of Trustees appointment for interim SA Government |
Fall 2012 – Summer 2014
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Pima Community College
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2007 – 2009
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Sacred Heart School of Theology – Hales Corners, WI
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1996 – 2000
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Cardinal Stritch University – Fox Point, WI
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1996-1998 |
Certificates
Hypnosis Certificate
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25 March, 2018 ~ 24 Clock Hours |
EMDR Certificate
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1 June, 2018 ~ 43 Clock Hours |
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Telehealth Certification TeleMental Health Training Certificate (THTC)
Pezi: Joni Gilbertson, MA, NCC, LCPC, BCTMH
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25 March, 2020 ~ 23 Clock Hours
20 March, 2020 ~ 18.5 Clock Hours |
Accreditations
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National Board of Certified Counselors
TeleHealth Certification InstituteProfessional and Religious Memberships
| American Psychological Association ID: 24398592 Type: Associate |
| Wisconsin Counseling Association ID: Kenneth J. Nelan Type: Professional |
| American Association of Christian Counselors ID: Rev. Kenneth J. Nelan, OPoc Type: Student Divisions:
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**ASM = the Autonomous Sacramental Movement – a Catholic presence not under the authority of the Bishop of Rome