Subsérie 16 - Correspondence of Fr. Evangelist Kelly

John Francis Kelly was on 15 September 1921 in Clara, County Offaly, the son of William Kelly and Elizabeth Kelly (formerly Deegan). He received the name Evangelist when he joined the Capuchin Franciscan Order in October 1940. Following his ordination on 16 June1949, Fr. Evangelist came to the United States as a teacher at St. Francis High School in La Cañada, California. In 1962, after serving in various places, Fr. Evangelist was appointed Pastor of Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang, California. There he continued the work of restoration, promoting tours of the historic mission building, expanding parish organizations, and working on spiritual programs for parishioners. He served as superior of the Western United States mission custody from 1968 to 1974. He then moved on to serve at parishes in Burlingame, California, and in Roseburg and Bend in Oregon. In 1999, he returned to Santa Inés and to the San Lorenzo Prayer and Retreat Center, serving as spiritual director and bible study leader. He died on 26 March 2010 at San Lorenzo Seminary in California. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining the seminary.

Baptismal name: John Francis Kelly
Religious name: Fr. Evangelist Kelly OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 15 Sept. 1921
Place of birth: Clara, County Offaly (Diocese of Ossory)
Name of father: William Kelly
Name of mother: Elizabeth Kelly (née Deegan)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct.1940
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1941
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1944
Date of ordination (as priest): 16 June 1949
Educational attainments: BA, 1st class hons. (1944); MA, 1st class hons. (1945)
Leadership positions: Superior, Western United States mission custody, 1968-74
Missionary activities: Travelled to the Western United States mission on 5 Aug. 1949
Date of death: 26 Mar. 2010
Place of death: San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California
Place of burial: Cemetery, San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California