Monsignor Francis Kelly
Title:
Monsignor
First Name:
Francis
Middle Names:
Thomas
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Kelly
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Rockhampton QLD
Country of Birth:
Australia
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
St Joseph's Cathedral, Rockhampton QLD
Country of Ordination:
Australia
Ordination Diocese:
Rockhampton
Seminary:
Corpus Christi College, Melbourne, Australia
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Townsville QLD
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Belgian Gardens, Townsville QLD
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Appointments Table
Diocese | Place | Role | Start Day | Start Month | Start Year | End Day | End Month | End Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Townsville | Railway Estate | Administrator | 1933 | Catholic Leader, 20 March 1969 | |||||
| Townsville | Charters Towers | Assistant Priest | 1933 | 1934 | Catholic Leader, 20 March 1969 | ||||
| Townsville | Townsville | Diocesan Secretary | 1934 | 1937 | Catholic Leader, 20 March 1969 | ||||
| Townsville | Townsville | Diocesan Consultor | 1938 | Catholic Leader, 20 March 1969 | |||||
| Townsville | Townsville | Vicar Capitular | 1938 | Catholic Leader, 20 March 1969 | |||||
| Townsville | Mundingburra | Administrator | 1944 | 1958 | Catholic Leader, 20 March 1969 | ||||
| Townsville | Belgian Gardens | Parish Priest | 1959 | Gravestone; Catholic Leader, 20 March 1969 | |||||
| Townsville | Townsville | Vicar General | 1962 | 1968 | Catholic Leader, 20 March 1969 |
Biographical Notes
Prominent Townsville priest dies suddenly, Catholic Leader, Brisbane, 20 March 1969, p 6:
Monsignor Francis Thomas Kelly, parish priest of Belgian gardens, Townsville, who died suddenly last Saturday afternoon, was one of North Queensland's best known priests.
Monsignor Kelly, who had been in indifferent health for some years, celebrated morning Mass in the parish church of Our Lady Help of Christians on Saturday morning.
He later attended a special Requiem Mass for two Christian Brothers, Reverend Brothers J.P. Lacey and J.A. Lambert, in the Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Shortly after lunchtime he had telephoned the Bishop's House from his presbytery to advise his fellow priests that he was unwell. He died shortly after 3 p.m. after receiving the final rites of the Church.
Born in Rockhampton on February 8, 1901, Monsignor Kelly was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Francis John Kelly. His mother was formerly Miss Margaret Mary Hanley.
After receiving his secondary education at the Rockhampton Christian Brothers' College, Monsignor Kelly studied at the University of Sydney for two years in the faculty of medicine.
While at the university he decided to become a priest and studied for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, Werribee, Victoria.
He was ordained to the priesthood in Saint Joseph's Cathedral, Rockhampton, on July 17, 1932. Shortly after his ordination he transferred to the Diocese of Townsville, which only a few years previously had been part of the Rockhampton Diocese.
On his arrival in Townsville Monsignor Kelly became the first administrator of St. Francis Xavier's parish, Railway Estate. From 1933 to 1934 he was assistant priest at Charters Towers.
Monsignor Kelly was diocesan secretary from 1934 to 1937, and in 1938 was appointed a diocesan consultor.
He was Vicar Capitular of the diocese (administrator) in 1938 while the See was vacant from the period of the translation of Bishop McGuire from Townsville to Canberra-Goulburn as Archbishop, and the consecration of Bishop Ryan, the retired Bishop of Townsville.
From 1944 to 1958 Monsignor Kelly was administrator of the Mundingburra parish and in 1959 he was appointed first parish priest of the Belgian Gardens parish.
In 1962 Monsignor Kelly received his elevation to the position of Domestic Prelate with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor and in the same year was appointed Vicar General of the diocese. In 1963 he was given the position of Prothonotary Apostolic.
Owing to continued ill-health Monsignor Kelly stood down as Vicar General just over a year ago when Monsignor O. Rush was raised to that position.
Monsignor Kelly was a brother of the late Monsignor Kevin Kelly, who for many years was the parish priest of Ayr.
He was buried in Townsville Last Monday following a celebrated Requiem Mass in the Sacred Heart Cathedral. At which Bishop Faulkner was chief celebrant, assisted by nine other priests of the diocese.
Bishop Rush, of Rockhampton, and Bishop Torpie, Cairns attended the funeral service, at which Bishop Faulkner delivered the panegyric.