Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-28
SEES FORTY YEARS SERVICE
Anniversary Of Father Ksllyls Ordination
Fittingly Celebrated.
FIRST PRIEST ORDAINED IN tHs STATE
over n Third of n Century is spent
in Nebraska In building and
Strengthening the Catho-
lie Church.

Father William Kelly's fortieth anniyer-
sary in the priesthood was celebrated al St
Philomenas cathedral yesterday morning by
solemn high mass in the presence Of the
bishop, Rt Rev. Richard Scennell. The
cathedral was we'll filled with friends Of the
venerable priest, many Of whom have been
associated with him during a great portion
of his service, The music was OF a high
order and specially adapted for the event.
The officers of the service were as follows:
Very Rev. Father Kelly, celebrant; Rev. j..
T. Smith, deacon; Rev. &. Glover sub
deacon; Rev. S. Carroll and Rev. j. stenson,
masters of ceremonies; Rev. Choka, vicar
general, and Revs. Jennette and John f.
English assistants to the bishop. The
priests in the sanctuary were: Revs. Wal
lace. Moriarty, Colaneri, Hayes, Bronsgeest,
Theobold. Ladislaus, Fitzpatrick, j. Nc
Carthy, Daxacher, w. Mcnamara and judge.
The sermon was preached by Rev. Father
Jennette, who said 1t was appropriate that
in addition to the other days Of worship in
the church the congregation should assemble
10 do honor to priest who had spent 50
many years in religious work. He thought
1t a fitting occasion for the people to join in
offering thanksgiving to the author Of all
good He sketched the scope of territory
which was under the jurisdiction of Father
Kelly when he came west forty years ago.
and the lack of facilities for transportation
and other comforts which are so common
now Yet. said Father Jennette. wherever
Father Kelly was called and where there
was work to be done, there he was found,
and In many an interior town today there
are these who remember the faithful priest
and speak his name with a benediction.
Reception and Dinner.
At the close OF the service a formal recep-
tion was held in the parochial school ad-
joining the cathedral property, where the
priests and many Of the laymen called to pay
their respects to Father Kelly and to cen
gratulate him upon his remarkable career.
Later dinner was served and several hours
were spent in social interchange.
Father Kelly was the first priest ordained
in this state. There is a friendly rivalry be-
tween him and Rev. Father Emanuel Hartig
o. 5. B., OF Nebraska City. vicar general OF
the diocese CT Lincoln, for the record OF serv-
ice in the ministry OF Nebraska. Father
Kelly began his missionary fabors in this
state in 1859, and Father Hartig in 1851
The latters labors, however, have not been
continuous, while Father Kelly's forty years
in the ministry form an unbroken record oil
service, first in the vicariate of Nebraska
and later in the diocese of Omaha. Fol
about one year Father Kelly was absent from
the state, when he attended the vatican Coun.
Gil at Rome, accompanying the bishop, and
spent some time in Paris. but this trip wa:
really in the service of the diocese.
His Career.
Father Kelly will soon have rounded ou
! full four score years. He was born ir
| County Armagh ireland, in 1920, and came
to the United States in 1856. He began a
once studying for the priesthood and was
ordained in Omaha, June %, 1859, by Righ
| Rev. James OGorman, the first bishop o
| the vicariate of Nebraska.
Father Kelly's first station was the mis-
| sion at jackson, Neb In the fall of 1853 h
was recalled to Omaha and given charge o
| ST. Mary's, the first Catholic church bull
in this city His active labors continued
| for thirty years Omaha was always hi
home station. but his missionary field ex
| tended east 100 miles in Iowa. 10 Fort Ran
! dali on the north, Laramie on the west ant
Kansas on the south.
| Follows the Railroad.
| He followed the construction camps OF tn
Union Pacific west to Laramie, and buift tn
| first Catholic church in that city and ais
! in Cheyenne. AS a church builder he wa
without a peer in his day. St. Phiomena'
| cathedral is in fact a monument TO his yea
| and persuasive power as a financial mis-
| sionary.
| After the completion of the Union Pacif
| in 1869 Father Kelly was recalled TO Omah
| and appointed secretary 10 Bishop O'Gor
man. In the following year he accompanie
| the bishop to the ecumenical council a
Rome. During the next three years he WA
stationed at Lincoln. In 1879 he was ap
pointed pastor OF the cathedral and vica
general OF the diocese by Bishop o'Connor
Father Kelly's active labors closed abou