Father Kenneth Doyle, a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, died this morning at the age of 82. He grew up in Troy, graduated from Catholic Central High School, attended Mater Christi Seminary, and received his degree in Theology from Catholic University. He was ordained by Bishop Edward Maginn on May 28, 1966.
Father Doyle served as Associate of Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Albany. In 1967, he began a career in journalism, serving as assistant editor of the diocesan newspaper, The Evangelist. In 1978, he received a law degree from Albany Law School and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1979. Other positions included Bureau Chief of the National Catholic News Service in Vatican City in 1981, and Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Catholic Conference in 1984. In 1992, he was named Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena which later became Mater Christi Church in Albany and in 2000, he began serving as Chancellor of Public Information for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.
He retired in 2016 but kept writing his “Question Box” column for Catholic News Service. Even though he eventually retired from that role as well, those columns have still been running, even appearing in this week’s edition of The Evangelist.
“Father Ken served the people of our diocese and the Albany community in many ways throughout his productive life, a man of great skill and talent,” said Bishop Edward Scharfenberger. “For most, however, he will be remembered as a pastor, with a kindly heart. We pray in thanksgiving for his life and ministry and for his eternal rest in the Lord.”
Funeral arrangements for Fr. Doyle are pending.