Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

Gery Kenney, a campus minister at Bishop Neumann in Wahoo, has been named the 2024 St. John Bosco Award Winner for Support Staff Member of the Year.

Kenney grew up on a farm near Salina, Kansas, as one of twelve children and moved to Nebraska in 2007. She shared her initial reluctance to live in a big city but felt an immediate connection with Wahoo during a visit for a funeral. "As soon as I came into the church (St. Wenceslaus), I thought, 'I could live here.' It felt like home," she said.

After relocating to Wahoo and discovering it was part of the Lincoln Diocese, Kenney decided to move permanently. "When I realized Wahoo was part of the Lincoln Diocese, which I'd always admired, I was sold," she added.

Kenney's eight children all graduated from Bishop Neumann Jr./Sr. High School. With a background in Catholic education and a degree from Benedictine College in elementary education, Kenney initially did not foresee herself working at a high school level or living in Nebraska.

She began her teaching career in elementary education in Kansas City and Salina before taking 20 years off to raise her children. After returning to work as a substitute teacher throughout Saunders County when her youngest child started kindergarten, Kenney joined Bishop Neumann's strategic committee aimed at strengthening its Catholic identity in 2016.

Together with Susan Chohon, Kenney initiated mission trips for students. Reflecting on their goals, she said: "Our goals were to make this trip authentically Catholic and... affordable for all." Their first trip took nearly 40 students to Chicago.

Following this success, Father Michael Morin invited Kenney to become the campus minister in 2017. She accepted after prayerful consideration: "I really believe the Holy Spirit led me here at a time when the school needed it and I needed it."

The mission trips have since evolved into annual journeys to Gallup, New Mexico, where students engage with various religious organizations. "The mission trip has been a huge blessing to me and one of the most gratifying parts of my job," she noted.

Despite having no prior experience in campus ministry initially, Kenney sought advice from other ministers and planned her activities around the Catholic calendar.

Describing her role's variability, she explained: "Every day is different... I can be doing anything from planning class retreats [to] organizing mission trips." She emphasized that her primary joy comes from interacting with students outside classroom settings: "A big part of my day is the time when they stop by my office."

Kenney also highlighted efforts to foster connections among students within the diocese through various events like Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) and The March for Life.

Under her leadership, student participation has significantly increased. From nine attendees at her first Steubenville Youth Conference trip to over 50 now participating annually; this year saw 71 individuals join their mission trip. She remarked on these growing numbers: "This is evidence that our students are 'hungry' for faith."

Ultimately focused on sustaining students' spiritual growth beyond specific events or retreats; Kenney stated: "For me... my whole goal is that they are lifelong Catholics with a relationship with Christ."

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