Bernard Kennedy facts for kids

Bernard Peter Mel Kennedy (born 20 May 1952) is an Irish psychoanalyst, poet, and priest. He is known for his work in these different fields.

Early Life and Education

Bernard Peter Mel Kennedy was born on May 20, 1952. His birthplace was Rathfarnham, a town in Dublin, Ireland. His mother was Alice Kennedy, and his father was William Augustine Kennedy. His father was an actor and a chemist.

Kennedy studied at Holy Cross Seminary in Dublin. He became a priest there in 1979. He also earned a special degree called a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). His PhD research focused on understanding human behavior. He studied the ideas of famous thinkers like Freud and Lacan. His 2006 thesis was titled The Freudian Understanding of the Symptom.

Career Paths

Bernard Kennedy has had a varied career. He has worked as a priest, a psychoanalyst, and a writer.

Priesthood and Church Work

Kennedy began his church work in 1978. He served as a deacon in Dublin. In 1979, he became a priest. That same year, he helped coordinate youth ministry. He also taught religious education at a college.

Later, he became a spiritual counselor at a hospital. He also served as a chaplain for a convent. Since 2017, Kennedy has been the pastor of Enniskerry. He is a priest in the Archdiocese of Dublin.

Understanding the Mind: Psychoanalysis

Kennedy follows a specific way of thinking called Lacanianism. This idea comes from the work of Jacques Lacan. It explores how our inner thoughts and feelings shape us.

In 2005, Kennedy wrote about how people connect with each other. He explored ideas like "transference" and "identification." He suggested that "all love is transference." This means our past experiences influence how we love now. He also wrote about how family history can affect future generations. He called this an "indentation of generations."

Kennedy believes that certain human behaviors come from our unconscious mind. He wrote about this in his PhD thesis. He described these behaviors as a "text" that can be understood.

Poetry and Writing

Bernard Kennedy is also a published poet. Between 1998 and 1999, he released three poetry books. These books were published by Marmara Press.

His poetry collections include:

• Leaves of Autumn: A New Poetry Collection 1988-1998 (1998)
• Berlin, Berlin (1999)
• The Poet's Tower & Love Poems (1999)

Memberships and Awards

In 1979, Kennedy received an important award. He won the National Council Educational Award in Philosophy. This award was given by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council.

Kennedy is part of several important groups. These include the European Association of Psychoanalysts (EAP). He is also a member of the Irish Psychoanalytic Association (IPA). Another group he belongs to is the Association for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in Ireland (APPI). He is a registered practitioner with these groups.

He is also a Member of Poetry Ireland (MPI). This shows his dedication to poetry. Kennedy has also been the vice president of the Bracken Boxing Club since 1989. He is also a member of the Leopardstown Club.

Views on Society

Bernard Kennedy has shared his thoughts on various social topics. He often speaks about community and understanding.

In 2018, a tragic event happened in Enniskerry. A young woman named Jastine Valdez was abducted and murdered. Kennedy spoke about the sadness in the community. He expressed his sympathy for Jastine's family. He also highlighted the strong bond between Irish and Filipino people. He noted the kindness of the Filipino community in the area.

Kennedy has also written about how different religions view certain topics. He believes that churches should be more welcoming to all people. He has encouraged different Christian groups to work together. This idea is called Ecumenism. For example, in 2022, he led a special prayer for peace. This prayer included people from Lutheran, Catholic, and Jewish communities.

Personal Life

In 2009, Bernard Kennedy led the funeral service for his friend, actress Anna Manahan.