“From the Archives” — Father Lawrence Kelly

One of Saint Mary’s most beloved priests a century ago was Father Lawrence F. Kelly. Born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1858 and ordained in Dublin in 1885, Father Kelly came to Saint Mary parish in 1906. He spent the rest of his life serv- ing here as an assistant pastor. All who knew him loved him and remembered his holiness and charity. In his years at Saint Mary, many poor children attended the parochial school. Sister Constantia, who taught there for many years, brought this concern to Father Kelly’s attention. Discreetly, so the children would not be embarrassed, Father Kelly gave Sister

Constantia his own personal money to buy clothes, shoes and school supplies for these students. His confession line was remembered as being the longest one. In 1995, Miss Lena Moore, Saint Mary’s oldest parishioner at that time (101 in 1995) said, “He was wonderful when you went to Confession. I haven’t found another priest his equal since he died.” Father Kelly had died 66 years before she offered this tribute!

To mark his 50th anniversary of ordination, parishioners took up a collection and gave Father Kelly a trip home to Ireland. Accompanying him on the ecumenical trip to the divided Ireland, was one of his closest friends, the pastor of nearby Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Father Kelly had a heart attack and died on October 5, 1929, after serving at Saint Mary for 23 years. His passing was mourned by the parish, including several generations he had baptized, given First Com- munion, married and baptized their children. In a tribute to him in the Catholic Virginian, The Reverend William Winston, editor (and formerly an assistant serving at Saint Mary with Father Kelly) wrote: “His life in Alexandria was a sermon that lasted 23 years and yet was never tiresome. His example of virtue, helpfulness, good humor and Christian charity did more for God’s Church than all the preaching done there put together.” Father Kelly’s tombstone in Saint Mary Cemetery reads: “A true follower of Him, self-sacrificing, comforting, inspiring, beloved by all.”