Archbishop Nolan and Fr John Carroll at Canon Kelly’s Funeral Mass
On 15 December the funeral of Canon Kelly was held in Holy Name parish, the church of which he had been Parish Priest for almost 23 years and which he had done so much for, overseeing the official opening and consecration of the new building in 1983. Principal Concelebrant at his funeral Mass was Archbishop Bill Nolan who was joined by Parish Administrator Fr John Carroll and other priests from across the Diocese.
Canon Kelly had died at the grand age of 97 and had been a priest for 71 years, being ordained in 1951 which, Archbishop Nolan commented in his homily, was before he himself had been born! His had been a life of commitment and dedication, as recalled by a letter Archbishop Nolan had received from a monk in Ampleforth who had been much influenced in his vocation by Canon Kelly and spoke of him as a gentle and kindly priest, sensitive to the needs of his parishioners. Archbishop gave thanks for Canon Kelly’s 70 years of service.
The funeral liturgy was supported musically by Catherine Walker on harp, and members of the St Mungo Singers.
