John Kenney Mahoney

Rev. John Kenney Mahoney, OMI, 85, died August 15, 2011, at the Oblate Madonna Residence in San Antonio, Texas, following a lengthy illness. He was born on September 20, 1925, in Southold, Long Island, New York, and was the son of the late Peter J. Mahoney II and Mary Mildred (Kenney) Mahoney.
Fr. Mahoney attended public schools and was in the armed services, seeing duty in the Pacific. After one year at Mt. St. Mary in Emmitsburgh, Maryland, he entered the Oblate Novitiate in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1948 and professed his first vows on September 8, 1949. His final vows were professed in Essex, New York, on September 8, 1952. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology in Washington, D.C. During his time there, he studied Japanese in Georgetown. On May 30, 1954, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Oblate Chapel in Washington, D.C. by Bishop Arsene Turquetil, OMI.
His first assignment in 1955 was to Tokyo, Japan, where he spent two years continuing to learn the language. He spent the next 52 years in Japan. He ministered in parishes in Itami, Kochi, Anan and Nagoya. While in Kochi and Anan, he was also Principal of the respective kindergartens. He served as Provincial of the Japanese Vice-Province from 1986 to 1992. When his health became frail, he moved to Naruto and then Koga parishes where he was in residence while assisting with occasional Masses. He fully retired in 2007 and returned to the United States. He resided at the Oblate Madonna Residence in San Antonio until his death.
Fr. Mahoney is survived by a sister, Mary Joan (Mahoney) Malar of Staten Island, New York, a sister-in-law, Marjorie Mahoney of Litchfield Park, Arizona, and by eighteen nieces and nephews, thirty-five grand nieces and nephews, and four great-grand nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Peter J. Mahoney III and Paul D. Mahoney.
A memorial service was held at the Oblate Madonna Residence Chapel in San Antonio on August 17, 2011.