Kelly, Laurence J., 1870-1955

Laurence J. Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pa. on Feb. 11, 1870. He entered the Society of Jesus on Aug. 13, 1887, and began his studies as a Jesuit at the Frederick (Md.) Novitiate in 1888, continuing them at Woodstock College in Maryland from 1893 until 1895. After teaching at Loyola College in Baltimore, Md. from 1896 to 1900, he returned to Woodstock where he further studied theology during 1901-1904. Father Kelly was ordained to the priesthood in 1903. After short assignments at St. Francis Xavier College in New York City and at the Novitiate of St. Andrew-on-Hudson, he was sent to the Jesuit house at Leonardtown, Md., from which he ministered to several St. Mary's County parishes from 1907 to 1917. Father Kelly was appointed head of Woodstock-on-Hudson, the Jesuit seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., in Aug. 1917 and remained there until he was made provincial of the Maryland-New York Province in June 1922. After completing his tenure as provincial in Sept. 1928, he returned to the Novitiate of St. Andrew-on-Hudson, where he taught until he became rector of Gonzaga College High School, Washington, D.C., in Sept. 1932. Father Kelly left Gonzaga in July 1938 and returned to Woodstock College of Maryland where he spent the early war years of 1939-1941. In 1942 he was assigned to Holy Trinity Parish, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., and served there until his retirement in 1953. Father Kelly was the author of 'A Carmelite shrine in Maryland' (1950, 2nd ed. 1957) and 'A history of Holy Trinity Parish, Washington, D.C., 1795-1945' (1945). He died on Oct. 15, 1955 at Georgetown University.