Kelleher, Didacus, 1873-1947, Capuchin brother

Baptismal name: James Kelleher
Religious name: Br. Didacus Kelleher OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 4 Aug. 1873
Place of birth: Watergrasshill, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Willliam Kelleher
Name of mother: Catherine Kelleher (née McCarthy)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 29 June 1895
Date of first profession: 29 June 1896
Date of final profession: 9 July 1899
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States in May 1914
Date of death: 3 May 1947
Place of death: St. Bonaventure’s Friary, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Capuchin Friary, Rochestown, County Cork

From the ‘Necrology of the Western American Province’ (2005):

James Kelleher was born near Watergrasshill in County Cork in August 1873. He was received into the Capuchin Franciscan Order in June 1895, took Didacus as his religious name, and was solemnly professed as a brother in July 1899. After a few years he and Fr. John Butler OFM Cap. were assigned to the new Capuchin mission in the United States. In 1914 they arrived in Paradise near Abbottstown in Pennsylvania. Here Br. Didacus helped the friars in caring for the church, the sacristy, and especially the Altar. In 1931 he was transferred from Abbottstown and ministered for several years at other locations in the American mission. After completing his assignment in the United States, he returned to Ireland. The remining years of his religious life were lived as a cook and sacristan at various friaries in the home province. For a short time, he ministered in Holy Trinity Friary in Cork. He died at St. Bonaventure’s Hostel in Cork on 3 May 1947 and was laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining the Capuchin Friary in Rochestown in County Cork.