Janet C. Soldon-Nelan
Pastoral Associate
Jan is co-founder and co-director of Sacred Wandering and is the associate pastor for the Pastoral Center. She is a retired licensed social worker for the State of Wisconsin and continues to work with individuals through life-coaching and working within Sacred Wandering’s healing clinic.
Jan is a life-long catholic by way of the Episcopalian and Jewish traditions, and adopted the Roman Catholic faith as an adult. She has a unique view of the world around her and is able to help others refocus away from trauma towards a healthier expression of self and spirit.
Fr. Kenneth J Nelan, OFD
Pastor
Fr. Kenn serves as co-founder and co-director of Sacred Wandering. He is a nationally certified licensed professional counselor in the State of Wisconsin.
Fr. Kenn served at a Franciscan parish before being accepted as a seminarian for a Roman Catholic Diocese in 1993. He attended a seminary in Wisconsin where he studied Pastoral Care and Counseling, as well as Theology. He has a special passion for Pastoral Ethics and +Christocentric teaching.
In 2001, Fr. Kenn was ordained a priest in the Catholic tradition but not under the jurisdiction of Rome. In 2007, Fr. Kenn joined and later professed lifetime vows in an autonomous Franciscan order. He is now discovering his own charism and how he best fits the world in service to the +Christ and People of God.
Today, Fr. Kenn serves all people equally under the teachings of the +Christ – that we are to love all people as we love ourselves. He works in the community, providing mental health services equally to the insured and non-insured. He is a priest in the Anglican Free Communion International. Though he is no longer under the Missional Order of St. Francis, he continues to discern his call to service in a religious order.
Religious Vitae
- Ordination
- 7 October 2001
- under the American Catholic Churches in the United States
- Bishop Michael B. Norton, Hon D.D.
- Assisted by Archbishop Lawrence J. Harms, Hon D.D.
- Assisted by Bishop J.J. Johnson, D.D.
- Current Faculties
- Anglican Free Communion International
- The Diocese of Keystone under the Most Rev. Raul Toro
- Anglican Free Communion International
- Holy Vows
- The Order of the Servant Franciscans – 12 April 2008 – 2011
- Renewed – Companions of Saints Francis and Dominic 2011 – 2014
- Transferred to the Order of Preachers, Old Catholic 2014 – 2020
- Transferred to the Order of St.s Francis and Clare 2020 – 2022
- Transferred to the Missional Order of St. Francis 2022 – 2023
- Transferred to the Order of Francis and Dominic 2024
The Anglican Free Communion International
Pastor – Pastoral Center
at Sacred Wandering
Servant – OSFD
United American Catholic Church
Vocations Director
Pastor – Pastoral Center at
Sacred Wandering
Professed Member of the
Order of Saints Francis and Clare
Old Catholic Churches International
Pastor – Pastoral Center at
Sacred Wandering
Vicar for the Diocese of
St. Catherine of Siena
Servant General for
Order of Preachers, Old Catholic
American Old Catholic Church (Later the OCCA)
Pastor – St. Elizabeth Oratory
Professed Member of the Companions of Saints Francis and Dominic
Order of the Servant Franciscans
Vicar General of the Order
Pastor – Prince of Peace
American Catholic Church in the United States
Pastor – St. Joseph the Worker
Vicar General of Wisconsin
Appointed to Archbishop’s Council
Named Monsignor to the Archbishop
Named Vicar of the Province of St. Francis of Assisi
Pastor – Christ Our Light
Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah
Outreach Coordinator to Migrant Workers at St. Francis Parish, Provo;
Special dispensation to serve as subdeacon to assist the pastor;
Seminarian at
Cardinal Stritch University &
Sacred Heart School of Theology
(See Education, Accredited)
Education (Accredited)
Accredited Institution | Years Attended /Graduated |
---|---|
Mount Mary University Ph.D. Program Counselor Education and Supervision | 2023 – Present |
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee (Graduate) Master of Science Major – Educational Psychology Emphasis on Community Counseling Emphasis on Multicultural Counseling Graduated with Honors – Summa Cum Laude | 2014 – 2016 |
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee (Undergraduate) Bachelor of Arts Major – Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies Minor – Community Engagement and Education Certificate – Latin American Studies Graduated with Honors – Summa Cum Laude Served on the Board of Trustees for interim SA Government | 2012 – 2014 |
Pima Community College General Studies and Continuing Education (Studies concurrent with employment: adjunct professor) | 2007 – 2009 |
John XXIII Theological Institute – ACCUS Major – Theology Licentiate of Sacred Theology (Unaccredited) | 2002 – 2005 |
Sacred Heart School of Theology (Hales Corners, WI) Major – Pastoral Counseling Separate Studies in Religious Studies Separate Studies in Theology | 1996 – 2000 |
Cardinal Stritch University (Fox Point, WI) Religious Studies / Priesthood Program For the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah | 1996-1998 (concurrent with SHST) |