Michael Kelly (13 February 1850 – 8 March 1940) was an Irish-born

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

bishop who became the fourth Archbishop of Sydney.

Early life

Born at

Waterford "Waterford remains the untaken city" , mapsize = 220px , pushpin_map = Ireland#Europe , pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ireland##Location within Europe , pushpin_relief = 1 , coordinates ...

, Ireland, to James Kelly, a master mariner, and Mary ''née'' Grant, Kelly was educated at Christian Brothers’,

Enniscorthy Enniscorthy () is the second-largest town in County Wexford, Ireland. At the 2016 census, the population of the town and environs was 11,381. The town is located on the picturesque River Slaney and in close proximity to the Blackstairs Mountain ...

and the Classical Academy, New Ross. Kelly received his seminary formation at St Peter's College, Wexford. and the

Irish College in Rome The Pontifical Irish College is a Roman Catholic seminary for the training and education of priests, in Rome. The College is located at #1, Via dei Santi Quattro, and serves as a residence for clerical students from all over the world. Designated ...

, before being ordained at Enniscorthy on 1 November 1872 by Bishop Thomas Furlong. Kelly served on the staff of the House of Missions, Wexford and was made vice-rector of the

in 1891. In 1894 he become rector of the college and as such an important figure in Anglophone Catholicism.

Episcopal ministry

Elected Archbishop of Achrida ''In Partibus Infidelium'' and coadjutor cum jure successionis of Sydney on 20 July 1901, Kelly received episcopal consecration as coadjutor archbishop on 15 August 1901 at St Joachim's Church, Rome, by Cardinal

Francesco Satolli Francesco Satolli (21 July 1839 – 8 January 1910) was an Italian theologian, professor, cardinal, and the first Apostolic Delegate to the United States. Biography He was born on 21 July 1839, at Marsciano near Perugia. He was educated at ...

. Kelly eventually succeeded to the See of Sydney on 16 August 1911 on the death of Cardinal Moran. During the 1918

Spanish flu The 1918–1920 influenza pandemic, commonly known by the misnomer Spanish flu or as the Great Influenza epidemic, was an exceptionally deadly global influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. The earliest documented case wa ...

pandemic, Kelly publicly criticised the federal government's "impious refusal" to allow Catholic priests to minister to dying victims, in particular nurse Annie Egan who died without receiving the

last rites The last rites, also known as the Commendation of the Dying, are the last prayers and ministrations given to an individual of Christian faith, when possible, shortly before death. They may be administered to those awaiting execution, mortall ...

. He sent a telegram of protest to acting prime minister William Watt, and then when no response was received attempted to enter the

North Head Quarantine Station The North Head Quarantine Station is a heritage-listed former quarantine station and associated buildings that is now a tourist attraction at North Head Scenic Drive, on the north side of Sydney Harbour at North Head, near Manly, in the Nort ...

, where he was told he would be arrested if he attempted to enter. As Kelly continued his crusade for temperance and he undertook extensive fund-raising for Catholic schools. It is estimated that £12,000,000 was spent on scholastic and church properties from the time of Kelly's arrival in Sydney until his death. St Mary's Cathedral was completed in 1928 and statues of Kelly and Moran stand in the main portal. He took a less belligerent attitude to sectarian tensions and political questions such as Irish affairs than Archbishop Mannix of Melbourne.P. O'Farrell, Archbishop Kelly and the Irish question, ''Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society'', 4 (3) (1974), 1–19. In recognition of his extensive service to the church, Kelly was named

Assistant to the papal throne The Bishops-Assistant at the Pontifical Throne were ecclesiastical titles in the Roman Catholic Church. It designated prelates belonging to the Papal Chapel, who stood near the throne of the Pope at solemn functions. They ranked immediately belo ...

, associated with the title ''Roman count'', on 25 June 1926. Kelly died in Sydney aged 90, still of sound mind.

References

External links

Archdiocese History – Kelly
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Michael 1850 births 1940 deaths People from County Waterford Roman Catholic archbishops of Sydney Pontifical Irish College alumni Irish emigrants to Australia Burials at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney People educated at St Peter's College, Wexford Irish expatriates in Italy Irish expatriate Roman Catholic archbishops

Early life

Episcopal ministry

See also

References

External links