About Fr. Kenneth Cienik, SA
4th Councilor
Father Ken is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a diehard Steeler, Pirate, and Penguin fan.
This past June, he celebrated his 60th jubilee of entrance into the Society of the Atonement and had the privilege to meet with Pope Francis in Rome on while on retreat. He briefly spoke with the Holy Father about our Servant of God, Fr. Paul Wattson, SA and presented him with a copy of the Life and Legacy of Father Paul: FIRE IN THE NIGHT.
Fr. Ken is currently assigned at the Chapel of our Savior in Brockton, Massachusetts.
He holds a BA in Philosophy from Siena College, a Master of Divinity from the Washington Theological Coalition, Master degree in Formative Spirituality from the Duquesne University and a Doctor of Ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation.
He had previously ministered in several parishes founded by the friars and was the Rector of the Church of Sant’ Onofrio in Rome and Procurator General to the Holy See.
He served as Vocation Director for Society of the Atonement, the Guardian of Saint Paul friary and did retreat ministry at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center.
Father Ken was the director of the Pre-Theologate at Franciscan University where he taught a class in Ecumenism.
While at Franciscan he accompanied over 60 men who are serving the Church as priests and religious.
He retired from the United States Navy Chapin Corps in 2010 with the rank of Captain having served 24 years throughout the Navy and Marine Corps communities.
He is a Veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and was a first responder at the pentagon.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Medal as well as the Combat Action Ribbon in addition to other unit and campaign awards.
Father Ken is a Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.
In 2024, he was elected at the 19th General Chapter to serve as a member of the General Council for the Friars of the Atonement.