Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Kelly, Joseph Stanislaus

Theologian, teacher, pastor; born Hawthorn, Victoria, 5 February 1902; died Melbourne, 19 April 1979, aged 77.

Stan Kelly was educated at Xavier College and was a gifted student who showed signs of dogged determination in the face of opposition. He entered the noviceship at Greenwich, 1 February 1922. His Jesuit studies were undertaken overseas, first in Dublin, where he earned a classics degree. Then he was sent to Chieri, Italy, for philosophy. The fluency of his Italian during these years never left him, and helped him in later years with the Italian migrants in Melbourne.

His regency was spent at St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point, and he was in residence when the Harbour Bridge was opened, 19 March 1932. From Sydney he returned to Milltown Park, Dublin, for theology and was ordained, 31 July 1936. Kelly indicated that he did not enjoy his time in Dublin.

Upon his return to Australia he had a wide range of priestly ministry. He lectured at the regional seminary at Werribee on two different occasions, 1938-42 and 1952-59. He lectured in dogma at the Jesuit theologate, Canisius College, 1945, and the following year was a chaplain to the Italians in Melbourne. He spent two years at St Leo's University College, Brisbane, 1963-65, school mastered at Riverview, 1943-44, and St Aloysius' College, 1960-62, teaching religion, Latin, English and social studies, and did parochial work in North Sydney and Richmond.

It was believed that Kelly enjoyed best his years teaching the Jesuit scholastics theology at Canisius College. During his seminary years he taught Latin, Greek, English, Italian, Mathematics, Church history, psychology, ethics, and dogmatic theology.

He was a most meticulous person, well ordered and disciplined in his lecturing and preaching. He enjoyed a passionate love for John Chrysostom and translated his sermons. He was disappointed when he was unable to find a publisher.

With all his learning and his very precise mind, there was also a very simple piety, a deep devotion to St Joseph and a genuine readiness to help anyone in need. One virtue that he showed was his great obedience, especially to the Holy Father.

He had a great love for people and he loved visiting them, especially when he was involved in parochial ministry. He was also kind to the scholastics when at Riverview, offering them cigarettes after recreation in his usual staccato-like voice: 'filtered or non-filtered?' as he packed cotton-wool or not at the end of the cigarette in the cigarette-making machine. Stories of encounters with Kelly usually produced much mirth. His 'way of proceeding' was not always the most expected or usual.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)