On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the majority of the Catholic Church of Philadelphia's pastoral shifts took place; this changing of the guard, so to speak, coincides with the start of the new fiscal year. And so, with it, our community warmly welcomes our eighth pastor, Rev. Kenneth L. Carava, who seamlessly and officially transitioned to his new home. Fr. Cavara has deep roots in our surrounding area. Having grown up in West Chester, he was an altar server at St. Agnes, where he also helped mow the grass in its cemetery. After graduating from St. Agnes' School, he attended Salesianum School in Delaware. Afterward, he went to West Chester University, where he studied political science. After college, he decided to travel abroad; he taught English in Taiwan and traveled around Southeast Asia, including Thailand.

 

His parents, Kenneth and Noreen Cavara, exemplified strong faith and service at St. Agnes, embodying the values they cherished. However, at sixteen, while playing in an international soccer tournament in the Netherlands, he received the news that he needed to return home. It was then that he learned of the sudden death of his father. As his mother remained steadfast, she raised seven children, the youngest of whom was only six years old at the time of her husband's passing. Fr. Cavara recalls her saying, "I knew the Lord would take care of us, as He always had."

 

After returning to the US, while working in medical sales in Mississippi, he became involved in his local parish, serving as a lector and catechist in the Parish Religious Education Program, and reading more about the faith. His pastor posed the question, 'Have you ever thought of becoming a priest?' This moment marked a significant step in his spiritual journey toward the priesthood. Another amazing aspect of the Cavara family is that his younger brother, Mark, was also ordained a priest in 2016, and they were together in formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary for several years. As he settles in, takes the lead in our pastoral care, and immerses himself in our vibrant community, he also looks forward to being in closer proximity to his family, including his sister, Teresa, and her family, who are active members at SMM. 

 

Having been ordained in 2021 and serving in several parishes, most recently as pastor at St. John the Baptist in Manayunk, Fr. Cavara understands the challenges of living in a world filled with distractions and devices. His role as a priest is a reminder to us of enduring faith, and as he shared with CatholicPhilly just prior to his ordination, 'To be a witness, a reminder of the Lord who sustains us and who we're going to behold face-to-face through his goodness and mercy and enjoy everlasting life; to be able to talk about that with people, sounds to me like a great life.'

 

We are truly blessed to have Fr. Carava with us, and we invite everyone to support his leadership and vision. As we work together to grow in faith and serve God, your ongoing care and engagement will continue to strengthen us, our community, and shared journey.