Brendan Kelly (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Brendan Kelly is an Irish
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He currently serves as Bishop of Achonry
.
Kelly was born in Ballinakill
, County Galway
, to Sean and Annie Kelly, as the second of nine children. He was baptised
six days after his birth, on 26 May 1946, and received Confirmation on 28 May 1957. He studied at Craughwell National School and St. Mary's College (1959–1964) before entering St Patrick's College
in Maynooth
in 1964. Kelly there obtained a degree in Bachelor of Arts
and in Bachelor of Divinity
, later receiving his Higher Diploma in Education from University College Galway
in 1973.
On 20 June 1971, he was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Michael Browne
, for the Diocese of Galway
. Kelly was Curate in Kinvara
, and then taught at Coláiste Einde (1972–1980) and Our Lady’s College, Gort (1980–1986), the latter of which he was subsequently President
until 1995.
Receiving a Sabbatical leave, he served as Chaplain
to the L'Arche
community at Cuise-la-Motte
in France
until 1996, whence he returned to Ireland as parish priest
of Lisdoonvarna. Kelly was named Canon
of the Cathedral
Chapter
and Vicar Forane
for the deanery
of Kilfenora
on 19 June 2002. Since 2003 he has been parish priest of Spiddal
; he became Vicar General
of Galway in 2005, and was raised to the rank of Chaplain of His Holiness
on 6 March 2006.
On 20 November 2007, Kelly was appointed Bishop of Achonry by Pope Benedict XVI
. He was surprised yet pleased by his appointment, and has promised to concentrate his initial efforts as Bishop on becoming acquainted with the clergy and people of the diocese. Cardinal Seán Brady
described him as "a man of prayer, filled with love for the Word of God and the pastoral care of people." Kelly was both ordained to the episcopate
and installed in his post on 27 January 2008.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He currently serves as Bishop of Achonry
Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is one of the five suffragan sees of the Archdiocese of Tuam. The diocese was often called the "bishopric of Luighne" in the Irish annals...
.
Kelly was born in Ballinakill
Ballinakill, County Galway
Ballinakill is the name of a harbour near the town of Letterfrack in County Galway in Ireland.The harbour includes a number of islands such as Roeillaun . Fish in this harbour include salmon, pollock and mackerel. A trip on a glass bottomed boat allows visitors to view the wildlife and scenery...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, to Sean and Annie Kelly, as the second of nine children. He was baptised
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
six days after his birth, on 26 May 1946, and received Confirmation on 28 May 1957. He studied at Craughwell National School and St. Mary's College (1959–1964) before entering St Patrick's College
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
in Maynooth
Maynooth
Maynooth is a town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College...
in 1964. Kelly there obtained a degree in Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and in Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
, later receiving his Higher Diploma in Education from University College Galway
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
in 1973.
On 20 June 1971, he was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop Michael Browne
Michael Browne (bishop)
Michael Browne was an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh from 1937 to 1976....
, for the Diocese of Galway
Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam...
. Kelly was Curate in Kinvara
Kinvara
Kinvara is a sea port village located in the south of County Galway in the province of Connacht on the west coast of Ireland. Kinvara is also the name of the parish in which the village is situated. Kinvara is occasionally spelled Kinvarra in English; this may be seen on some maps and road signs,...
, and then taught at Coláiste Einde (1972–1980) and Our Lady’s College, Gort (1980–1986), the latter of which he was subsequently President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
until 1995.
Receiving a Sabbatical leave, he served as Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to the L'Arche
L'Arche
L'Arche is an International Federation dedicated to the creation and growth of homes, programs, and support networks with people who have intellectual disabilities...
community at Cuise-la-Motte
Cuise-la-Motte
Cuise-la-Motte is a town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-References:*...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
until 1996, whence he returned to Ireland as parish priest
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
of Lisdoonvarna. Kelly was named Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of the Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
and Vicar Forane
Archpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
for the deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
of Kilfenora
Kilfenora
Kilfenora is a small village in County Clare in Ireland, just south of The Burren. The village is noted for being the home to the Kilfenora Ceili Band and the location for much of the filming of the sitcom Father Ted.-Places of interest:...
on 19 June 2002. Since 2003 he has been parish priest of Spiddal
Spiddal
Spiddal is a village on the shore of Galway Bay in County Galway in Ireland. It is west of Galway city on the R336 road. Spiddal is on the eastern side of the county's Gaeltacht near Connemara, and is a tourist centre with a scenic beach, harbour, and shore fishing.-The village:The Mac...
; he became Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of Galway in 2005, and was raised to the rank of Chaplain of His Holiness
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
on 6 March 2006.
On 20 November 2007, Kelly was appointed Bishop of Achonry by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. He was surprised yet pleased by his appointment, and has promised to concentrate his initial efforts as Bishop on becoming acquainted with the clergy and people of the diocese. Cardinal Seán Brady
Seán Brady
Seán Baptist Brady is an Irish cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is the current Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2007.-Early life and education:...
described him as "a man of prayer, filled with love for the Word of God and the pastoral care of people." Kelly was both ordained to the episcopate
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
and installed in his post on 27 January 2008.