Ken Rush

Ken was born in Winchester, Virginia, December 4, 1944 the only child of John Kenneth Rush and Martha Nitsche Rush.  His mother was a nurse anesthetist and dad worked on the local newspaper, the Winchester Evening Star.

He went to public schools where in the fourth grade when students were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up he said I want to be a priest.  A girl in the class said what's that?  That wish came true when he was ordained a Catholic Priest May 15, 1971 for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.  Ken had several assignments in Virginia before being named pastor-- including chaplain at  Norfolk Catholic High School where he also taught on the religion faculty.

Ken earned a Master in Sacred Theology in 1971 from Catholic University in Washington, a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University in 1975 and a Doctor of Ministry from St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore in 1980.  Ken was named a Prelate of Honor with the title Monsignor by Pope John Paul the Second in 1996.

Ken was assigned as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish Harrisonburg, Virginia in 1981 and then was assigned as pastor of Holy Cross Parish Lynchburg, Virginia in 1992. Ken retired from the active ministry on July 1, 2021

Ken’s fondest memories of more than 50 years as a priest are the people he met along the way----people he worked with and helped and ministered to.

Ken enjoys travel and reading among other things.