Identity area
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- Rev. John Patrick Kelly, SFM
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Fr. John was born January 7, 1913 in Sebastopol, Ontario, one of three sons and two daughters born to Patrick and Sophia Kelly. He attended St. James Primary school and Continuation School in Eaganville, Ontario and after a few years at St. Francis Xavier Seminary in Scarborough was sent to study at Brignole Sale in Genoa, Italy from 1936 to 1938.
Fr. John was ordained to the priesthood in St. Columbkille’s Cathedral in Pemroke on August 15, 1936 by Bishop Patrick Ryan. Fr. Kelly left for China in 1938 and remained there almost continuously until 1944. He spent his first two years at Kinwha learning the Chinese language. Subsequent years saw him serving in such places as Tungyang, Huenshin, Hunan, Dolu and Lishui. Due to the Pacific War, he returned to Canada briefly in 1944-1945. While home he helped out at St. Francis Xavier church in Renfrew, Ontario and St. James Church in Eganville. In 1947 he returned to China and in 1948 was appointed Regional Superior there. In 1949 Fr. Kelly returned to Canada to participate in the Second General Chapter of the Society and was unable to return to China because of the Communist revolution. Fr. Kelly then took post graduate studies in Canon Law at the University of Ottawa and was awarded his Doctorate in that field in 1950. The title of his thesis was “Legal Status of Mission Stations.”
From 1953 to 1961 Fr. Kelly was professor of Missiology, Mission Law and Latin at St. Francis Xavier Seminary. From 1959 to 1961 he held the positions of vice-rector and librarian. In 1959 he was elected as a member of the third general chapter of Scarboro.
In 1961 Fr. John was appointed the first regional superior of Scarboro’s mission in St. Vincent, West Indies. During his time there he was also pastor of the Parish of the Assumption. After his term of office in 1966 he became pastor of Our Lady of Fatima parish in St. Lucia where he stayed until 1970 when he was appointed to Scarboro’s mission in the Bahamas.
Fr. Kelly experienced health issues from 1970-1972 for which he received treatment in Canada. He died suddenly at his mission in Rock Sound, Bahamas, on November 17, 1972. At Fr. Kelly’s own request he was buried on the mission where he died. Respecting his wishes, he was interred in Nassau, the Bahamas on November 23, 1972.
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Created by F Rousselle Feb 26 2025.
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Adapted from Scarboro Missions "Book of Life".