Société des Missions Africaines - Province des Etats-Unis

né le 6 septembre 1930 dans le Comté Clare dans le diocèse de Killaloe, Irlande serment perpétuel le 6 janvier 1954 prêtre le 5 février 1955 décédé le 14 avril 2001

1955-1958 études en Droit canonique à Rome 1959-1960 tribunal du mariage, Philadelphie 1960-1961 Dedham, professeur au séminaire 1961-1962 Doylestown, supérieur du séminaire 1962-1963 diocèse de Cape Palmas, Liberia 1963-1964 Doylestown, supérieur du séminaire 1964-1968 Dedham, professeur au séminaire 1968-1978 Tenafly, Provincial 1978-1989 tribunal du mariage, Monrovia, Liberia 1989-1991 tribunal diocésain, Metuchen 1992-2001 Tenafly, archiviste provincial décédé à l’hôpital de Teaneck, Etats-Unis, le 14 avril 2001 à l’âge de 70 ans

Kevin Scanlan was born at Scariff, Co Clare, Ireland, in the diocese of Killaloe, on September 6, 1930.
He died in Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck, NJ, on Holy Saturday, April 14, 2001.

Kevin Scanlan was one of a family of four brothers and two sisters born to Denis and Mary Kate (nee Melody) Scanlan. He attended Grade School in Scariff, and commenced his High School education in St. Flannan’s College, Ennis, Co Clare, in 1945. Three years later he entered St. Joseph’s College, Wilton, Cork (the SMA’s senior secondary school) with a view to joining the Society. During his final year in Wilton Kevin contracted tuberculosis and was hospitalized for a number of weeks. Although he received a clean bill of health from the doctors, the Irish Province was reluctant to accept him back. He had been unable to sit for his Leaving Certificate examination owing to his illness although he was taking all honors subjects. Eager to continue his studies for priesthood he applied to the American Province and was accepted. He came to America with glowing references from the Irish Province, but with a caveat about his health. Kevin might be expected to experience health difficulties in Africa. In America, however, where the Province had a number of Mission parishes, he would be less exposed to illness. In 1949 Kevin came to Queen of Angels Seminary, Dedham, MA for his philosophical studies and novitiate. He received his theological formation in the Catholic University, Washington DC (1951-1955). Kevin was received as a member of the Society on June 23, 1951 and was ordained a priest at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington DC, by Bishop John M. McNamara, on February 5, 1955. Ordained with him on that day were five other SMA priests, Albert Cooney, Philip Bagnasco, Owen O’Sullivan, Philip Carrigan and James Hayes. He celebrated his first Mass on February 6, at the Church of St. Francis, Ridgefield Park, where he had relatives.

During his student days Kevin excelled in his academic work – and particularly in the study of Church law - so it came as no surprise when after his ordination he was sent to Rome for further studies. Enrolling in the famed Angelicum University he obtained a doctorate in Canon Law (JCD) conferred in 1958. The topic of his dissertation, later published by the SMA, was ‘Ordination and the canonical status of clerics in Societies without vows’. Almost a decade later he was to spend two years at Boston College (1965-1967), graduating with a Masters degree in Education. He was also to study briefly at the University of San Diego. On completing his Canon Law degree in Rome Kevin was appointed to the staff of Queen of Angels Seminary, Dedham. After a year he went to serve on the Philadelphia Marriage Tribunal – it was excellent experience - returning to his professorship in Dedham in 1960. The following year saw him transferred as superior of the new Novitiate in Doylestown, PA, named Ave Maria Seminary.

Kevin first went to Africa in October 1962 when he was appointed to Cape Palmas diocese, Liberia. However a year later he was recalled to Doylestown when his superiors found it hard to find an adequate replacement. He was to return to Liberia again in 1978 when he became founding Director of the Matrimonial Tribunal in Monrovia Archdiocese, a post he held for eleven years. During this time he also taught Canon Law in St. Paul’s major seminary, Gbarnga, Liberia. During his priestly career Kevin was to hold several senior administrative posts in the Province. He was elected Provincial Superior on two occasions serving between 1968-1973 and again 1973-78. His final posting was to the Provincial Archives in Tenafly, which he took up in 1992. Kevin’s aptitude for Canon Law was also put to good use throughout his life. In later years (1989-1991) he served as Judge and Defender of the Bond in the Matrimonial Tribunal of Metuchen, NJ, while living at and assisting in the parish of St. Joseph, Millstone. During his time in Liberia he prepared two booklets for the preparation of couples considering marriage and also served as advisor to the Bishops of the Interterritorial Conference of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia. During his priestly career, he served with distinction on various other commissions relating to legal matters including the Society Commission which drew up new Constitutions during the 1990’s.

The official Provincial Obituary identified a number of Kevin’s qualities as a man and a priest which are worth recording. ‘Distinguished in appearance with a reserved and gentlemanly manner, Kevin was admired for the compassionate kindness that tempered his strong sense of legal and liturgical correctness… Though sought after for his legal expertise in Church matters, he never lost sight of the pastoral and human elements of Church law. In one of his essays entitled ‘Marriage Tribunals: a Mixed Blessing’, he wrote: “The breakdown of a marriage is a personal tragedy, a pastoral issue in its deepest sense; this is what we should be addressing, not whether it was or was not ever a legal entity (valid or invalid). We need a far more human, pastoral, compassionate, even at times, penitential procedure … in other words, we need a pastoral rather than a canonical or legal approach to this whole issue of broken marriage, and the sooner it comes the better!” Kevin’s interests ranged widely. He was particularly devoted to the SMA African Art Museum in Tenafly and worked closely with its staff.

Courageous in the face of failing health, Kevin was deeply saddened when the cancer that invaded his throat eventually prevented him from presiding at Mass. However he put his energy and devotion into maintaining the liturgical integrity of the SMA chapel and its activities at the Tenafly headquarters. He produced an imaginative weekly chapel bulletin, inserting both thoughtful and humorous anecdotes and insights, and he oversaw general maintenance of the chapel, ensuring that it was always an inviting place of prayer for visitors who sought spiritual solace.

Kevin’s brother, Gerard, became a priest in the Irish Province of the Society and died in 2002.

He is buried in the SMA Community plot in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Tenafly, NJ, USA.