Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 141-143:
Mons. James Kelly

For most of his 40 years at Annerley, Mons. James Kelly might be seen dressed in his Monsignor's purple-bordered soutane as he crossed busy Ipswich Rd from the old presbytery to the outstanding Church of Mary Immaculate he had built in 1932.

James Denis Kelly was the younger brother of Fr John Kelly standing almost directly behind him in the photograph. Born on the Darling Downs, he was described a 'a truly Australian priest with that ruggedness and independence built into his character'. He studied at St Patrick's, Manly and with two of the Murphys, was ordained at St Stephen's in 1913, the first ordination there since 1879.

As a young priest, he served in Bundaberg and Chinchilla, then was appointed Parish Priest of Enoggera. From 1923 to 1928 he was Parish Priest of Stanthorpe. In 1929, he took up his last appointment as Parish Priest of Ipswich Rd, Annerley. He remembered his instructions from Archbishop Duhig 'to build a Church'. Even though the country was in the grip of the depression, Jim forged ahead with the Father Gallagher Memorial Church, better known now as Mary Immaculate. At the opening in 1932 he was commended not only on the fine building, but also because the work itself had given employment to so many workers who had families to provide for.

Over the years, he rebuilt the parish, new Church schools and presbytery, but as Fr Barney McLaughlin said in tribute, 'It is not primarily as a builder that Mons. Kelly will be remembered here, nor as a preacher, not as a teacher or social worker, but as a priest first and forever with "Do this in memory of Me" carved into his soul. His devotion to his Masses and the administration of the Sacraments we know so well.'

In Known and Respected, another Barney provides a fine portrait. Fr Barney O'Shea wrote: 'Early in 1934, I knocked on the front door of Annerley Presbytery then opposite the school on Ipswich Rd. Jim welcomed me warmly but not effusively. I had yet to learn about that noble man. He was not demonstrative but was genuine through and through. Imbued with priestly ideals, his most obvious virtue was his hospitality. Open door was his maxim, especially towards the clergy. Bishops down to country curates frequented the place. Jim was a big man, then in middle age, 'a priest among priests', big in stature, very big in heart. Big too in generosity to those who frequented his presbytery. He was a typical Downs man, born and bred in the country, big in his love of Australia. Neighbouring priests as well as others from more afield made Annerley a second home. Mons. Edward Barry was Jim's greatest friend. Ted and Jim became associated when the former was replaced by the latter as Parish Priest of Stanthorpe. When Jim undertook his first parish visitation, a local commented, "all Stanthorpe was sorry to lose Fr Barry. As I always said, he was too good for this dump". Ted and Jim were as much alike as chalk and cheese. I would attribute their enduring friendship to the appreciation of manliness that each held for the other.

It was on Monday evenings that the clergy gathered at Annerley for the weekly game of bridge. One day Jim drove Pat McGinley and myself to the South Coast - 90 minutes of Jim's slow driving as we listened to Pat's latest interest, re-afforestation, to which Jim and I made murmurs of interest ... '

Being Irish-Australian, Jim was very aware of the wrongs of Ireland, yet he was one of the protagonists of the Australian clergy in the Irish-Australian affair.

In 1965 or so, Mons. Kelly retired but continued to reside at the new presbytery in Ferndale St. He died in the Mater Hospital on 27th April 1970. His funeral left from St Stephen's for Nudgee Cemetery.

John and Jim Kelly had two nephews who were priests - Jack Kelly, Parish Priest of Cannon Hill in Brisbane and Pat Kelly of the Toowoomba Diocese.

Footnote: Fr James Gallagher was the first resident priest at Ipswich Rd from 1916. He had previously been Administrator of St Joseph's Cathedral in Rockhampton. He walked with a limp, as he had been thrown from his horse and lay injured for some days in the bush before he was found. Ant bites had caused him terrible suffering. Early in 1924, he died from a strained heart after working around the churchyard.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)

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Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rt Rev Monsignor James Denis Kelly, died 27 Apr 1970

James Denis Kelly was born at Highfields on 5th October, 1887. He was one of six children. (Another brother, John, became a priest of the Brisbane Archdiocese, dying as Parish Priest of Kalinga. Two nephews, John and Pat Kelly, also became priests). He was educated at the Christian Brothers College, Toowoomba, before commencing studies at St Columba's, Springwood, and St Patrick's, Manly. He was ordained by Coadjutor Archbishop James Duhig in St Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane, on 8th December, 1913. In the Archdiocese he held the following appointments: Assistant Priest, Bundaberg (1914-18); Priest in charge, Miles, Taroom and Chinchilla (the first in this capacity 1918-21); Parish Priest, Enoggera (1922-23); Stanthorpe (1924-29) and Ipswich Road, Annerley (1929-70). At Annerley he built the Church, presbytery, convent, primary and secondary schools. He was made a Domestic Prelate with the title of Monsignor. He died in 1970 and was buried in Nudgee Cemetery.
(Ref. Brisbane Archives and O'Leary)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.