Father Frank Keenan C.P. was laid to rest in the St. Francis de Hieronymo Catholic Church Garden Cemetery on Saturday, December 16.  Father Frank was the first Passionist Priest to be buried in our garden cemetery since Father Joe Van Leeuwen's burial on April 1, 2017 [1]; and only the second since Father Ferdinand Madl's death in June of 1972.

His road to the priesthood started here in St. Paul when he entered the Passionist noviate in 1953.  Completing his year here, he studied philosophy and theology at monasteries in Des Moines, Chicago and Louisville. After ordination, he returned to St. Paul as Novice Director, a position he held for about two years.  From here, he enjoyed a long and rewarding ministry including student leadership at several locations, and finally in pastoral ministry at Lutheran General Hospital near Chicago.  His final wish was to return to St. Paul for his funeral, and burial in the St. Francis Passionist Cemetery.

The Funeral was concelebrated by St. Francis pastor Father Theodore Khin, and Father Don Webber C.P.  Father Webber is with the Office of Mission Effectiveness, Holy Cross Province, Park Ridge, IL.  Like Father Keenan, Father Don also started his priesthood here.

1. Father Van Leeuwen died at the Passionist Mission in Southern Kochi, India on February 28, 2017 and was returned to the United States for burial.
​2. For more information about St. Paul's Passionist era, follow these links:

• The Passionists enter among promise, doubt and turmoil (1893 - 1896) - A Catholic Mission
• The Passionist Influence is Expanded - A Catholic Mission

​Rev. Francis X. Keenan, C.P. religious priest of the Passionist Congregation, died at St. Benedict Nursing and Rehabilitation Home, in Niles, IL, at 90 years of age, on November 25, 2023.

Father Frank was born in Chicago on July 18, 1933.  He entered the Passionist noviate, at St. Paul, in 1953 and professed his first vows in July of 1954.  His studies in philosophy and theology were at the monasteries in Des Moines, Chicago and Louisville. After sacred eloquence, he returned to St. Paul as assistant Novice Director, a position he held for about two years.  From here, he enjoyed a long and rewarding ministry including student leadership at several locations, and finally in pastoral ministry at Lutheran General Hospital near Chicago.

Father Frank cherished his short assignments in St. Paul and made many friends here.  Many of our parishioners still remember him fondly. His final wishes were that his cremation, visitation and memorial mass be done in Chicago.  Then he wanted to return to St. Francis, St. Paul, for his funeral Mass and burial in our Church Garden Passionist Cemetery. 

Father Frank Keenan's obituary is linked HERE.