Msgr. Kenneth Schwanger
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Msgr. Schwanger was born April 25, 1960, in Harrisburg, Pa. He graduated from Middletown Area High School there, then followed his father to Florida, where he graduated from the University of Florida in 1982. He went to the University of Florida Law School, obtaining his law degree in 1984. That same year, he entered the seminary, completing his studies at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Miami on May 12, 1990. In addition to his duties at Our Lady of Lourdes, he serves as adjutant judicial vicar of the archdiocesan Tribunal, promoter of justice for the archdiocese, president of Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School in Miami, chairman of the permanent diaconate advisory board and judge for the Tribunal of Nassau, Bahamas.
Currently Msgr. Schwanger is Pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
What he did before becoming a priest:
"I went to school. I worked for the University of Florida as an attorney. I also worked for Reisman & Brynn, a law firm that is no longer in existence, and I handled immigration matters for the Archdiocese of Miami."
Person most surprised by his vocation:
"My friends because they thought I could do good things as a lawyer. They did not see a need for me to be a priest. It seemed radical to them at the time. They are still my friends."
What the seminary did not prepare him for:
"Nothing prepares you for everything. The seminary gave me the tools I needed."
What he would be doing if he had not become a priest:
"I would probably be an attorney, working in legal aid or government work."
Favorite priestly assignment:
"Being the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is the universal Church in miniature. There are so many cultures. It is such an active community. There are always more things to respond to and develop. I never wake up bored. And the spirit of our community is extraordinarily positive."
The most difficult aspect of being a priest:
"It is seeing the suffering for those who do not respond to Christ. It is knowing that if they gave their life to Christ, it would change their lives. I know the stories of people intimately, and the desperation, hurt and struggle people face. If they would give their life to Christ and believe, it would change everything."
'If (people) would give their life to Christ and believe, it would change everything.'
His description of the ideal priest:
"He loves God and loves his people."
A priestly stereotype that he feels should be discarded:
"The thing about stereotypes is that they are partial truths. They are incomplete. Priests are as different as there are people in the world. People need to realize that."
What he does on his day off:
"I walk. If I have the whole day off, I walk a 15-mile circuit. I have walked El Camino de Santiago three times, and I have been on it a total of eight times. I also visit friends."
Msgr. Kenneth Schwanger is shown here on one of his pilgrimages through El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) in Spain. He has walked the ancient pilgrim road in its entirety three times and been on some part of it a total of eight times.
Favorite movie:
"'The Lion in Winter' because of its artful use of the English language in the dialog. The recent movie I have seen is 'The Way,' written and directed by Emilio Estevez and starring his father, Martin Sheen. I really enjoyed the movie. It is a good portrayal of the human stories that get intertwined and grow along the Way of St. James and the cinematography is great. It is more challenging physically than the movie lets on. It helped me relive my experiences and remember the people I have met over those years."
Favorite TV series:
"Gator football."
Last book read:
"El Sueño del Celta. The Celtic Dream."
Favorite type of music:
Classical
Person he most admires:
"My mom and dad. They were good souls and normal people."
His greatest disappointment:
"There is not enough time to do all that I want to do and experience it all."
His greatest joy:
"A Mass where everyone is connected and you feel the Spirit."
His greatest accomplishment:
"Being an authentic person."
Thing he most fears:
"I don't know that person and I would rather not."
