Edward Joseph Kelly (February 26, 1890 – April 21, 1956) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Boise in Idaho from 1927 until his death in 1956.

Biography

Early years

Kelly was born on February 26, 1890, in The Dalles,

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

, the third of five children of James Leo and Henrietta (née Wakefield) Kelly. He received his early education at St. Mary's Academy in The Dalles, and classical studies at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

in Portland. Kelly began his studies for the priesthood at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park,

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, and proceeded to the

Pontifical North American College The Pontifical North American College (NAC) is a Catholic Church, Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy, that prepares seminarians to become priests in the United States and elsewhere. The NAC also provides a residence for Prie ...

and Propaganda University in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

Priesthood

Kelly was

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are Consecration in Christianity, consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the religious denomination, denominationa ...

a priest in Rome on June 2, 1917. He then served as a

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thoma ...

in the Diocese of Baker City until 1919, when he became a secretary to Bishop Joseph Francis McGrath and

chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...

of the diocese.

Bishop of Boise

On December 16, 1927, Kelly was appointed as the third Bishop of Boise by

Pope Pius XI Pope Pius XI (; born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, ; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939) was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 until his death in February 1939. He was also the first sovereign of the Vatican City State u ...

. He received his episcopal

consecration Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ( ...

on March 6, 1928, from Bishop McGrath, with Bishops Mathias Lenihan and Charles White serving as

co-consecrators A consecrator is a bishop who ordains someone to the episcopacy. A co-consecrator is someone who assists the consecrator bishop in the act of ordaining a new bishop. The terms are used in the canon law of the Catholic Church, Lutheran Churche ...

. During a visit to

Vatican City Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (; ), is a Landlocked country, landlocked sovereign state and city-state; it is enclaved within Rome, the capital city of Italy and Bishop of Rome, seat of the Catholic Church. It became inde ...

in 1934, Kelly was granted a private audience with Pope Pius XI, conducted in

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

Death and legacy

Edward Kelly died of a heart attack while celebrating mass in Boise on April 21, 1956; he was age 66. He was succeeded by Bishop James Byrne.

Bishop Kelly High School Bishop Kelly High School is a private Roman Catholic secondary school in Boise, Idaho, operated by the Diocese of Boise. One of two Catholic high schools in the state of Idaho, its school colors are black and gold and the mascot is a knight. Hi ...

in west Boise, opened in 1964, is named in his honor.

References

External links

Diocese of Boise
– Previous Bishops * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Edward Joseph 1890 births 1956 deaths People from The Dalles, Oregon Roman Catholic bishops of Boise 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States University of Portland alumni Saint Patrick's Seminary and University alumni Catholics from Oregon