From
the Brook
A Weekly Profile of Members
of the Ordination Class of 2008
from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood
Deacon
Brian Michael Kean
Age: 28
Where Born: Philadelphia
Where Baptized: Our Lady of Fatima, Bensalem
Parents, Siblings: Only child of Bruce and Geraldine
Kean
Home Parish: St. Frances Cabrini, Fairless Hills
Current Diaconate Assignment: St. Stanislaus Parish, Lansdale
Grade School; Year Graduated: St. Frances Cabrini Parish
School, 1994
High School; Year Graduated: Conwell-Egan Catholic High
School, 1998
College; Year Graduated; Degree and Major: St. Charles Borromeo
Seminary, 2003; bachelor’s degree in philosophy
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary entrance date: August 2000
Describe your earliest memory of going to church.
My earliest memory, I recall, takes place on my first Communion day. The
memory is centered around the late Msgr. Charles Mynaugh, a former pastor
of my home parish, showing all the first communicants his vestment, which
had been made for him by a previous first Communion class. I remember
all of us children gathered around him and being mesmerized by his presence,
and what he was saying to us, about what an important and special day
this was for all of us.
At what age and how were you first called to the priesthood, and what
was the deciding moment that led you to enter the Seminary?
I believe I was 12 or 13 years old when I first thought of being a priest.
It was an attraction that would continue through most of my teen years
— stronger and more prevalent than other ideas of a vocation
at certain times.
It was not until I was in college that I came to understand — from
the advice of a wise priest — that if God was truly calling me to
a priestly vocation, then I was going to have to leave behind some of
my present life, and begin a more serious process of discernment. It
was at this time that I felt God was calling me to enter the seminary.
Who influenced you most in your decision to enter the Seminary,
and how?
I believe my parents were instrumental in nurturing the seed of my vocation.
Faith has always been central in our family. They are an example of absolute
trust in God. They have always been very accepting of my inclination to
want to be a priest. My experience of dedicated and holy priests growing
up in my home parish had a great influence on me — especially
my pastor of 18 years, Msgr. John Miller, who is now pastor emeritus of
St. Frances Cabrini in Fairless Hills.
Were there any particular moving or grace-filled events in those beginning
days or years at the Seminary? This last year?
One grace-filled moment of this last year was the opportunity to preach
the Forty Hours devotion at my diaconate assignment, St. Stanislaus Parish
in Lansdale.
It is a parish of deep faith and devotion to the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
This is most evident in its dedication to the parish’s Perpetual
Adoration Chapel. I was very honored to have had the opportunity to share
in that most graced time with the parish.
What has been your favorite apostolate assignment and why? What
year was it?
I have had many wonderful and varied apostolate assignments. One that
stands out would be my year at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia,
during third theology.
I found this assignment both difficult and extremely rewarding. So many
of the children and families I visited demonstrated such strength and
deep faith in the midst of great hardship. I was continually humbled to
experience their deep trust in God, and grateful for their example.
What has been your biggest challenge at St. Charles Seminary,
and how have you met that challenge?
I don’t believe it is a challenge that is unique to St. Charles,
but fairly common in our society today — the challenge of time.
Finding enough time to balance responsibilities, the Seminary schedule,
studies, prayer, family, friends, etc.
After eight years, I do not claim to have solved the problem, but I hope
I have met the challenge adequately — since I do believe it will
only continue in priesthood.
What will you miss most about St. Charles Borromeo Seminary?
I believe I will miss the liturgical celebrations of the Seminary, which
are carried out day after day with great reverence and beauty. The Seminary’s
annual celebration of Forty Hours is, without a doubt, the Seminary at
its best!
I will also miss the camaraderie among the seminarians and the witness
they have been to me; they are men who are authentically striving to live
holy lives.
What advice do you have for the current underclassmen about their
remaining years at St. Charles?
Trust. Trust that God has called you to this place. Trust that He is leading
you in your discernment of a vocation to His holy priesthood, and that
you will only find joy and happiness if you surrender yourself to His
will. And, you have to laugh sometimes!
What advice would you give to seminarians who will enter St. Charles
for the first time this fall?
Try not to let the joy and excitement you feel upon entering the Seminary
and beginning a more personal relationship with Jesus fade away.
Seminary life can tend to pull you in many directions, quickly. Hold on
to the confidence you placed in the Lord that this is where He wants you
in your life at this moment.
What do you do for recreation?
Read for leisure; bike ride; watch a movie; go out to dinner with friends.
What are your favorite devotions and why?
One of my favorite devotions is the Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous
Medal.
Beginning when I was a young boy, I would attend Mass on Saturdays with
my Dad and Pop-Pop at his parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Bensalem.
Following Mass, the novena would be said, and from that early age I have
found our Lady’s intercession to be very strong in the prayers of
the novena.
What does the priesthood mean to you?
The priesthood, to me, means standing in the person of Jesus among the
faithful — as unworthy as I may be — as a visible witness
of Jesus’ hope and love in the world.
The priesthood means bringing Jesus to the faithful — through
the sacraments, through preaching, through my day-to-day ministry —
to all those who are entrusted to my care.
— Compiled by Christie L. Chicoine, CS&T Staff Writer
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