VENERABLE PRELATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1940, Page 5

VENERABLE PRELATE

ARCHBISHOP KELLY DEAD. BODY TO LIE IN STATE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. SYDNEY. March 8. The death has occurred of Archbishop Kelly. Death came peacefully to the venerable Catholic prelate at the archbishop’s palace at Manly. With him when he died were his coadjutor, Archbishop Gilroy and Monsignor Nevin (president of St. Patrick’s College, Manly). The Apostolic delegate, Archbishop Panico, had just left the palace. The body, which will lie in state for a few days, will be buried in the tomb of Archbishop Kelly’s own design in a crypt at the Sydney Cathedral.

Archbishop Kelly had been critically ill for some weeks. He was born in New Ross, Wexford, in 1849. and began his studies for the priesthood at St. Peter's College at Wexford. Later he went to the illustrious and venerable Irish College, Rome. He read there a brilliant course and was ordained on All Saints’ Day, 1872. After ordination he returned to his native diocese and as there was no pressing need for his services in diocesan work he became a member of the House of Missions, Enniscorthy. In 1894 he was appointed rector of the Irish College, Rome —at lhe same time being appointed procurator for the Irish and Australian bishops. For seven years he filled with honour those two positions. In 1901 he was appointed coadjutor to his Eminence the late Cardinal Moran, whom he succeeded as Archbishop of Sydney in 1911.

In 1926, the jubilee year of his consecration, he was created a Papal Count and made Assistant at the Pontifical Throne by Pope Pius XI. In 1932 he celebrated the diamond jubilee of his ordination.