Father John Kiernan was born July 7, 1924 in New York and grew up in the Bronx. He attended the St. Joseph's Abbey Seminary in Rome, Italy. He spoke English, French and Italian.
Father Kiernan was ordained as a member of the Cistercian Order on December 21, 1955.
Prior to coming to Sacred Heart on July 5, 1988, he was granted permission to work as an associate of the Maryknoll Missionairies in Guatemala.