Kevin Cronin O.F.M., a native New Yorker, born in the Bronx, of John Cronin, an NYPD detective for 20 years in Harlem. Kevin was raised in N. Floral Park, Queens, on Long Island, and went to join the Franciscans, in their HS  seminary in Callicoon NY in the early sixties, right in the middle of Vatican II. He has his BA in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America, and his MA in Theology from the Washington Theological Union.

Ordained by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, his first eight years of priestly ministry were spent at the busy downtown church of St. Anthony Shrine on Arch St. in Boston, much like the friar's church of St. Francis of Assisi on 31 St. in NYC, hearing confessions, like all the other friars for 1 hr to 3 hrs a day. He was known as a popular preacher in  the Boston area.

It was there he founded the Young Catholics (young adult group) and is  happy to report that five young men joined the Order of Friars Minor from this community: one now a missionary pastor in Lima, Peru; another, the former Novice Director; another a youth minister at Mt. Ireneaus near St. Bonaventure University; another the director of Arts at Siena College; and, John Kelleher, now a member of the Ministry of the Word team!

He was then appointed a Vocation Director for the Friars Minor of Holy Name Province for the East Coast of the USA for 4 years living in his home town parish of birth, Holy Cross on Southview Ave. in the  Bronx.

During a 1987 sabbatical, he explored the effects of media in our culture studying in Berkley, CA; had a third world experience in our mission in Jamaica; and spent three months as a hermit in solitude.

Then, as member of the pastoral team at St. Mary's in Pompton Lakes, N.J. for 6 yrs. he coordinated the sacramental ministry of the church, delighting in the confirmation program, sophomore year of HS. At Pompton Fr. Kevin was awarded a special "citizen of the month" award from the mayor and the local paper for his work with the youth of Pompton Lakes, especially during a tragic death of one of the HS youth.

He has published two books: Kenosis: Emptying Self and the Path of Christian Service, where he shares an early time in his life when he worked at St. Francis Church in NYC, and critically analyzes himself and his ministry through the ministry of Kenosis. He also inspired and edited a book written by 15 friars called A Friar's Joy in which friars share stories from their lives which display their joy of being Franciscan friars at the end of the second millenium...Loving God Gladly! Over 15,000 sold.

He studied the Bible & the land 2 months in the Holy Land on sabbatical, Fall '98 and has been involved witth the Ministry of the Word since 1993. Fr. Kevin feels he is doing something he was always called & gifted to do! 

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