Reverend Timothy James Kidney

Reverend Timothy James Kidney
October 27, 1945-October 13, 2018
Resident of Cupertino
Father Tim Kidney was born in LaPorte, Indiana, the son of John and Dolores Kidney. He attended Catholic elementary schools in Illinois and Minnesota. His first two years of high school were in Minnesota; moving to California, he graduated from Serra High School in San Mateo.
Father Kidney entered Saint Patrick's College Seminary in Mountain View in 1963, and did his theological studies at Saint Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park. He was ordained at Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco on May 29, 1971, by Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken.
After serving at Saint Justin Parish, Santa Clara, Father Kidney was associated with the Society of Saint Sulpice, dedicated to the formation of future priests. After earning a doctorate in Moral Theology at the Catholic University of America, he was assigned to the faculty at Saint Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, from 1976 until 1983, becoming a priest of the newly established Diocese of San Jose in 1981.
For a year, Father Kidney served as Chaplain in Residence at Presentation Center in Los Gatos, then as parochial vicar at Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose, and as Chaplain of the Newman Center for Stanford University, located at Saint Ann Chapel.
In 1987, Father Kidney was assigned as Pastor of Saint Maria Goretti Parish in San Jose. At the end of his term, he was missioned to seminary formation work for three years at Saint Dominic Seminary in Lusaka, Zambia. Returning to the Diocese of San Jose, he was Pastor at Saint Patrick Proto-Cathedral Parish from 1996 until 1999, and worked for the diocesan Office of Vocations from 1999 until 2000. He became Pastor of Saint Cyprian Parish in Sunnyvale in 2000 and at Saint John Vianney Parish, from 2004-2006.
When the Bishop of Montego Bay requested help to train lay people in roles of leadership, Father Kidney volunteered to be sent to that Jamaican diocese. He later served as Administrator of Saint Joseph Parish in Mountain View, a role he relinquished due to failing health. Father Kidney retired on July 1, 2010, eventually taking up residence at the diocesan retirement home for priests in Cupertino. Earlier this year, he moved to Sunrise Villa in the Evergreen area of San Jose.
Father Tim Kidney will long be remembered as a man who was straightforward in his ministry and in communication. He touched the lives of many through his parish assignments and his work as seminary professor and formator. He will also be remembered for his great generosity and his dedication to the work of the Church, especially in areas of social justice.
Father Tim is survived by his brother, Jack and sister-in-law Donna, their children, Debra Palmer and Sandra Amador, and nephew John Bunch, son of his late sister, Mary Bunch, as well as many friends.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, 5111 San Felipe Road, San Jose, on Saturday, October 20, at 11:30 am, followed by a reception. A viewing will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Los Altos. Donations in lieu of flowers to St. Francis of Assisi Lunch Program or Maryknoll Missions.


View the online memorial for Reverend Timothy James Kidney