Brendan Kelly (bishop)

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Styles of Brendan Kelly (bishop)


Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Grace
Religious style	Monsignor
Posthumous style	not applicable

Brendan Kelly (born May 20, 1946) is an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Bishop-elect of Achonry.

Kelly was born in Derrybrien, Ballinakill, County Galway, to Sean and Annie Kelly, as the second of nine children. He was baptized six days after his birth, on May 26, 1946, and received Confirmation on May 28, 1957. He studied at Craughwell National School and St. Mary's College (1959-1964) before entering St Patrick's College in Maynooth in 1964. Kelly there obtained a degree in Bachelor of Arts and in Bachelor of Divinity, later receiving his Higher Diploma in Education from University College Galway in 1973.

On June 20, 1971, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Michael Browne, for the Diocese of Galway. Kelly was Curate in Kinvara, and then taught at Coláiste Einde (1972-1980) and Our Lady’s College (1980-1986), the latter of which he was subsequently President until 1995.

Receiving a Sabbatical leave, he served as Chaplain to the L'Arche community at Cuise-la-Motte in France until 1996, whence he returned to Ireland as parish priest of Lisdoonvarna. Kelly was named Canon of the Cathedral Chapter and Vicar Forane for the deanery of Kilfenora on June 19, 2002. Since 2003 he has been parish priest of Spiddal; he became Vicar General of Galway in 2005, and was raised to the rank of Chaplain of His Holiness on March 6, 2006.

On November 20, 2007, Kelly was appointed Bishop of Achonry by Pope Benedict XVI. He was surprised yet pleased by his appointment, and has promised to concentrate his initial efforts as Bishop on becoming acquainted with the clergy and people of the diocese^[1]. Seán Cardinal Brady described him as "a man of prayer, filled with love for the Word of God and the pastoral care of people."^[2] Kelly will be both ordained to the episcopate and installed in his post on January 27, 2008.