Liverpool: Archbishop Kelly celebrates 50 years of priesthood

Archbishop Patrick Kelly

This week, the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool, is to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. The Archbishop was ordained on 18 February 1962 in the chapel of the Venerable English College, Rome, by Cardinal William Godfrey, himself a former Archbishop of Liverpool (1953-1956) also present was a future Archbishop of Liverpool (1976-1996) and Archbishop Kelly's predecessor, the then Monsignor Derek Worlock who was Master of Ceremonies and Secretary to the Cardinal.

Archbishop Kelly will mark the anniversary on Saturday 18 February when he celebrates Mass with the Carmelite Sisters at the Carmelite Monastery, Liverpool. The following day, Sunday 19 February, will see the public celebration with theannual Civic Mass and Mass of Thanksgiving at 3pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool. Bishops from across the country and from abroad are expected to attend this celebration together with Civic Dignitaries from throughout the region including the Lord Lieutenant of Liverpool, Dame Lorna Muirhead, and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Frank Prendergast.

Archbishop Patrick Kelly was born in Morecambe, Lancashire on 23 November 1938, the first son of John and Mary Kelly. His father, originally from Donegal, was a local dentist. The Archbishop attended St Mary's Primary School, Morecambe and Preston Catholic College before commencing studies for the priesthood in Rome in 1955.

After his ordination he remained in Rome for postgraduate studies until 1964.

On his return to England he was appointed as Assistant Priest at St Peter's Cathedral, Lancaster where he served for two years until his appointment as a lecturer in theology on the staff of St Mary's College, Oscott, Birmingham in 1966.

He became Rector of Oscott in 1979 and continued in the post until his appointment as Bishop of Salford in 1984. He was translated to Liverpool on 21 May 1996; being installed as Archbishop of Liverpool on 3 July 1996.

Reflecting on fifty years of priestly ministry Archbishop Kelly said: "Only these words of Saint Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians, which in the loving wisdom and wisest love of God, always seemed to be part of the worship of the church whenever I was called to live out being a priest in a new way, adequately express my heart and
mind at this time: 'Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen."' (Ephesians 3:20-21.)

Further details of the Civic Mass and Mass of Thanksgiving are to be released later this week.