Francis Kelley
Encyclopedia
Francis Clement Kelley was the second Roman Catholic Bishop of Oklahoma
. He was a Catholic Priest
for 54 years, and Bishop for 23 years.
, Canada. His early education and seminary
training were in Canada and Belgium, and he was ordained a priest for the diocese
of Detroit, Michigan
, in 1893. In 1905, he founded the Catholic Church Extension Society
of the United States and was elected its first president. The Extension Society continues to do great work in promoting the mission of the Catholic Church in rural and mission areas of the United States. Kelley also founded and edited the quarterly Extension Magazine, which had more than 3 million subscribers during his administration. In addition to his editorial duties, he authored numerous books
Father Kelley was active in war and diplomacy during his day, and he served as a military chaplain during the Spanish-American War. As a diplomat, Kelley represented the bishops of Mexico during the World War I
Peace Conference in Paris. He also initiated unofficial negotiations between the Vatican and the Italian government for a settlement of the Roman Question
. Two years after the war, Kelley was sent to England by the Vatican to settle postwar differences over German and American missions. As president of the Extension Society, Kelley also represented the Mexican bishops during the Carranza Revolution. He established a seminary in Texas for exiled Mexican seminarians and clergy
.
became the new cathedral for the diocese. Under his care the infant diocese grew to maturity. Bishop Kelley died in Oklahoma City
.
In 1932 Bishop Kelley succeeded Bishop Joseph H. Conroy of Ogdensburg as Chairman of the Bishops Catholic Committee on Scouting. Under his leadership the Catholic Committee expanded to include 22 Archbishops and Bishops, one from each Ecclesiastical Province in the United States.
In 1934 the American hierarchy approved a "Plan of Cooperation" recognizing Scouting as serving the church's interest in the spiritual welfare of Catholic youth, and approving it as an approved youth program in the Church. Bishop Kelly was recognized by the Boy Scouts of America
with the Silver Buffalo Award
in 1939, the first member of the catholic clergy to be so recognized.
The Diocesan high school, Bishop Kelley High School
, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as Bishop Kelley Catholic School, in Lapeer, Michigan, are named for Bishop Francis Kelley.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Its ecclesiastical territory includes 46 counties in western Oklahoma. The Most Reverend Paul Stagg Coakley is the current archbishop...
. He was a Catholic Priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
for 54 years, and Bishop for 23 years.
Early life
Francis Clement Kelley was born in Vernon River, Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, Canada. His early education and seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
training were in Canada and Belgium, and he was ordained a priest for the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, in 1893. In 1905, he founded the Catholic Church Extension Society
Catholic Church Extension Society
The Catholic Church Extension Society of the United States of America is a charitable organization affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church that seeks to support the Church's activities in under-resourced and isolated communities in the United States...
of the United States and was elected its first president. The Extension Society continues to do great work in promoting the mission of the Catholic Church in rural and mission areas of the United States. Kelley also founded and edited the quarterly Extension Magazine, which had more than 3 million subscribers during his administration. In addition to his editorial duties, he authored numerous books
Father Kelley was active in war and diplomacy during his day, and he served as a military chaplain during the Spanish-American War. As a diplomat, Kelley represented the bishops of Mexico during the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Peace Conference in Paris. He also initiated unofficial negotiations between the Vatican and the Italian government for a settlement of the Roman Question
Roman Question
thumb|300px|The breach of [[Porta Pia]], on the right, in a contemporaneous photograph.The Roman Question was a political dispute between the Italian Government and the Papacy from 1861 to 1929....
. Two years after the war, Kelley was sent to England by the Vatican to settle postwar differences over German and American missions. As president of the Extension Society, Kelley also represented the Mexican bishops during the Carranza Revolution. He established a seminary in Texas for exiled Mexican seminarians and clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
.
Episcopacy
Kelley was consecrated Bishop of Oklahoma in 1924. During his years as Bishop, he successfully resisted the agitation of the KKK and continued his work as the "Extension Bishop." Like other missionary dioceses in the country, Oklahoma received funds from the Extension Society to build and to furnish churches. In 1931 Our Lady of Perpetual Help ChurchCathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Oklahoma City)
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Catholic cathedral in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.-History:...
became the new cathedral for the diocese. Under his care the infant diocese grew to maturity. Bishop Kelley died in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
.
In 1932 Bishop Kelley succeeded Bishop Joseph H. Conroy of Ogdensburg as Chairman of the Bishops Catholic Committee on Scouting. Under his leadership the Catholic Committee expanded to include 22 Archbishops and Bishops, one from each Ecclesiastical Province in the United States.
In 1934 the American hierarchy approved a "Plan of Cooperation" recognizing Scouting as serving the church's interest in the spiritual welfare of Catholic youth, and approving it as an approved youth program in the Church. Bishop Kelly was recognized by the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
with the Silver Buffalo Award
Silver Buffalo Award
The Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program...
in 1939, the first member of the catholic clergy to be so recognized.
The Diocesan high school, Bishop Kelley High School
Bishop Kelley High School
Bishop Kelley High School is a Lasallian Catholic high school with over 800 students, grades 9 to 12, located at 41st and Hudson Avenue, in the center of the Tulsa metropolitan area, on a campus spanning just over 37 acres...
, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as Bishop Kelley Catholic School, in Lapeer, Michigan, are named for Bishop Francis Kelley.
Books Written by Francis Kelley
- The Last Battle of the Gods (1907)
- The City and the World (1913) - Short Stories
- Letters to Jack (1917)
- Charred Wood, a novel published under the name of Myles Murdach
- Dominus Vobiscus (1922)
- Story of Extension (1922)
- When the Veil is Rent (1929)
- The Forgotten God (1932)
- Blood Drenched Altars (1933)
- Problem Island (1937)
- The Bishop Jots it Down (1939)
- Sacerdos et Pontifex (1940)
- Pack RatPack ratA packrat, also called a woodrat, can be any of the species in the rodent genus Neotoma. Packrats have a rat-like appearance, with long tails, large ears and large black eyes. Compared to deer mice, harvest mice and grasshopper mice, packrats are noticeably larger and are usually somewhat larger...
(1942) - Tales From the Rectory (1943)
See also
- Bishop Kelley School (disambiguation) for schools named after Francis Kelley
- Saint Benedict Center for a short biography.