BISHOP EDWARD J. KELLY: An Informative Biography from The Kelligian
Many years ago the BK school yearbook, The Kelligian, included a brief biography of its namesake, Bishop Edward Kelly. It appears to have been reprinted from another source, and it is published here for your reading pleasure.
But the question remains as to whether young Edward Kelly ever played football, and, if so, what position he played. If anyone knows please share the details at MidKnightMedia@gmail.com. Thanks.
Bishop Kelly High School will perpetuate the memory of one of Idaho’s best known religious leaders – the late Bishop Edward Joseph Kelly.
Bishop Kelly, the third Bishop of the Diocese of Boise, was born in the Dalles, Oregon, February 26, 1890. He attended St. Mary’s Academy, The Dalles. In 1907 he entered St. Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park, California, then went to Rome to study at the North American College. Bishop Kelly was ordained June 2, 1917 in Rome by Cardinal Pompili.
At the time of his Consecration as Bishop he was among the youngest Bishops in the world and the first native westerner to be consecrated. The Bishop’s work took him into a number of fields. He promoted the teaching of religion by instituting the Correspondence course, establishing the summer institutes for Sisters, and by supervising and writing texts for religion. The summer vacation schools, the high school De Sales Club, and the regular weekly instruction of children are among the religious education programs promoted by him.
Bishop Kelly’s desire to provide adequate and devotional places of worship for the people of the diocese shows itself in the thirty-five churches and missions which were constructed during his administration.
Bishop Kelly’s life of dedication to the diocese came to and end April 21, 1956, as he was preparing to offer Mass. Services were held in St. John’s Cathedral, April 26, 1956.
