St. Brigid's, Marrickville. Father Kelly Says His First Mass, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 25 September 1897, p 14, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115470688:

The church of the Passionist Fathers at Marrickville was on Sunday last the scene of a most interesting ceremony. The sanctuary looked its best, decorated as it was for one of the special Feasts of the Order, the Seven Dolours of Our Lady. The Children of Mary in their full numbers received Holy Communion at the 7 o'clock Mass. At 9 o'clock the church was well filled with children. The Very Rev. Father Vincent, C.P., addressed a few words to the little ones, and asked their prayers for the newly-ordained priest who was to celebrate his first Mass at 11 o'clock that day. Long before the time for the last Mass the church was filled, and the passages were seated for those who came later. Punctually at 11 o'clock the Rev. John Kelly, whose parents reside at the "Warren," Marrickville, came from the sacristy clad in a rich white vestment, the gift of his loving parents.

Father Vincent, who assisted Father Kelly in his first Mass, after the Gospel read the Epistle and Gospel of the Sunday, and remarked that there was no necessity for any sermon from him that morning. Any words of his would but mar the solemnity of the celebration they had come to take part in. A young priest known to many of them as a child of grace and a child of promise, with the oil of ordination fresh upon his hands from yesterday, was now about to offer for the first time the adorable Sacrifice of the Mass. [...]

After Mass Father Kelly gave his blessing to all the congregation, this ceremony lasting over an hour. The young priest returned during the week to St. Patrick's College, Manly.

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Government Gazette, Evening News, Sydney, 13 November 1897, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108876547:

The undermentioned officiating ministers have been registered for the celebration of marriages: [...] Roman Catholic Church (Archdiocese of Sydney)—Rev. John Kelly, Liverpool; Rev. Bernard Comaskey, Camden. [...]

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News of the Churches, Australian Town and Country Journal, Sydney, 13 March 1898, p 8, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71284439:

The Rev. J. Kelly, who was lately ordained in St. Mary's Cathedral, has been changed from Liverpool to St. Francis's, Haymarket, Sydney, as assistant priest.

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Death of Rev. Father J. M. Kelly. Solemn Office and Requiem at Lewisham. His Grace Archbishop Gilroy's Eloquent Panegyric, Catholic Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 11 August 1938, p 22, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146266077:

The sudden death of Rev. Father John M. Kelly on Friday evening last was tragic in its circumstances. Although the deceased had not been in robust health for some considerable time, his condition on Friday did not give any indication that anything unusual was amiss. The sad ocurrence took place in the chapel of Lewisham Hospital. According to his custom, when well enough Father Kelly often gave Benediction, and, with the monstrance in his hands, was in the act of blessing the congregation, when he suffered a heart seizure and collapsed in front of the altar. Medical aid was summoned instantly, but it was of no avail.

With the passing of Father Kelly, an interesting and historical link with St. Patrick's College, Manly, has been severed, because he was one of the few surviving members, as far as is known, of a group of students who completed studies there and presented themselves for ordination to the priesthood on September 18, 1897—41 years ago.

The late Father Kelly was born at Redfern in 1874, and was therefore 64 years of age. His primary education was received at the hands of the Good Samaritan Nuns in the old Convent school, Pitt Street. Afterwards he attended St. Francis' School, Haymarket, which was at that time conducted by the Marist Brothers. For a time he followed a business career, at the well known firm of Lassetters, but the call of his ultimate vocation became too strong, and his name was enrolled in the new Ecclesiastical College of St. Patrick's, Manly, which had just opened its doors. After a brilliant course of studies in that seminary, he was ordained as mentioned above on September 18, 1897, being then but 23 years of age.

His first appointment after ordination was to the staff of St. Mary's Cathedral, afterwards he was sent to Liverpool. St. Francis' Haymarket, Concord, and Mosman. Recognised as a man of great culture and high literary attainments, he was for two years attached to the professorial staff at Manly College. Another transfer to St. Francis' Haymarket, and a term spent at Rydalmere and Campsie. The development of indifferent health considerably hampered his career, and he was forced to apply for sick leave, and from that time on he has been an inmate of Lewisham Hospital, where he officiated as assistant chaplain. In the hospital, as in other places, his gentle manner and lovable disposition won him hosts of friends among the clergy and laity, and the gathering at his requiem and at the graveside was eloquent of the esteem in which he was held.

Solemn Office and Requiem Mass.

[...]

Archbishop Gilroy's Tribute
Most Rev. Dr. N. T. Gilroy, in his panegyric, said:—"We are here to-day to pay a tribute to Father Kelly, and to ask God to grant peace and rest to his soul." His Grace then spoke of the tragic circumstances surrounding his death, which he said must excite the sympathy of all. The great gathering present was an indication of the high regard in which he was held, declared the Archbishop. His Grace then detailed the services rendered by the late pastor, including his appointment to the Cathedral staff, to Liverpool, St. Francis' (Haymarket), the Professorial Staff of St. Patrick's College, Manly; to St. Francis', Mosman, Concord and Campsie, until during the period that he was priest in charge of Rydalmere, health conditions compelled him to apply for sick leave in 1921. Since then he has been in indifferent health.

For many years he has been assistant Chaplain at Lewisham Hospital, conducted by the Little Company of Mary, added the Archbishop. His many lovable qualities were very evident, as to know Father Kelly was to love him; and that is not to be wondered at, because he was a great lover of his family. He had a high concept of the priestly dignity, and he realised that the outstanding virtue in every priest was that of charity—a love of God in the first place, and then the love of his fellow man. He impressed this on the students under his care at Manly. His Grace was sure that those students must have had a great admiration for their professor. He was a perfect guide, and if a gentleman be considered as one who never gives pain to another, he was truly a Christian gentleman.

While he was in hospital it was his duty to administer the Holy Viaticum; all the patients who received It were impressed by the manner of Its administration. So it was that every word he uttered, every act he performed in carrying out his sacred duties, was done with the realisation that he was dealing with God, and not with men.

His Grace then referred to his intense devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, agreeing that it was only fitting that he should die under the special circumstances that he did. Father Kelly had recited the act of reparation, which every good priest will do; expressing to God his sincere regret for his transgressions and his determination to avoid sin in the future. He took the Monstrance in his hands to bless those who had come to honor their Eucharistic Lord; then his Divine Lord called—surely to give him the reward he sought in prayer. But he was a human being, with human frailties, and as a priest he had responsibilities to carry, so they were gathered to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the repose of his soul, and he would ask them not to be unmindful of him in their prayers.

Very Rev. Father Doherty pronounced the last absolutions, and as the casket was removed from the church, the girls from St. Thomas' High School formed a guard of honor. The last prayers at the graveside wore recited by Right Rev. Monsignor T. Phelan, P.P., V.G., assisted by Rev. Fathers R. Lonergan and F. Lloyd.

Funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. W. N. Bull.