Francis Martin Kelly (November 15, 1886 – June 24, 1950) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Winona in Minnesota from 1928 to 1949.


Francis Martin Kelly
Bishop of Winona
Titular Bishop of Mylasa
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of Winona
PredecessorPatrick Richard Heffron
SuccessorEdward Aloysius Fitzgerald
Other post(s)Titular Bishop of Mylasa
Orders
OrdinationNovember 1, 1912
by Édouard-Charles Fabre
ConsecrationJune 9, 1926
by Patrick Richard Heffron
Personal details
Born(1886-11-15)November 15, 1886
DiedJune 24, 1950(1950-06-24) (aged 63)
Rochester, Minnesota, US
Educationthe Catholic University of America
Propaganda University

Early life

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Francis Kelly was born in Houston, Minnesota, to James and Ellen Kelly. His father sat in the Minnesota Legislature.[1] After attending the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, he earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. (1909) and a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the Propaganda University in Rome (1913).

Priesthood

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Kelly was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Winona by Archbishop Édouard-Charles Fabre in Montreal on November 1, 1912. He became secretary to Bishop Patrick Richard Heffron in 1914, and taught philosophy at St. Mary's College and St. Teresa's College between 1915 and 1926. He was chancellor of the diocese (1919–26) and vice-rector of St. Mary's College (1918–26).

Auxiliary Bishop and Bishop of Winona

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On March 22, 1926, Kelly was appointed auxiliary bishop of Winona and Titular Bishop of Mylasa by Pope Pius XI. He was consecrated on June 9, 1926. On February 10, 1928, Pius XI appointed Kelly as bishop of the diocese.[2]

He retired on October 17, 1949.[2] Francis Kelly died in Rochester, Minnesota, on June 24, 1950.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-James C. Kelly
  2. ^ a b c "Bishop Francis Martin Kelly". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Winona
1928–1949
Succeeded by