Name Francis Kelly | Died 1950 | |
Education Catholic University of America | ||
Francis Martin Kelly (November 15, 1886 – June 24, 1950) was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Winona from 1928 to 1949.
Kelly was born in Houston, Minnesota, to James and Ellen Kelly. After attending the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, he earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. (1909) and a Doctor of Sacred Theology from the Propaganda University in Rome (1913). He was ordained to the priesthood on November 1, 1912. He became secretary to Bishop Patrick Richard Heffron in 1914, and taught philosophy at St. Mary's College and St. Teresa's College between 1915 and 1926. He was chancellor of the diocese (1919–26) and vice-rector of St. Mary's College (1918–26).
On March 22, 1926, Kelly was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Winona and Titular Bishop of Mylasa by Pope Pius XI. He was consecrated on June 9, 1926. On February 10, 1928, Pope Pius XI appointed Kelly Bishop of the Winona; he retired on October 17, 1949.