Born Thomas Joseph Kelly on December 21, 1843 in Blanchardstown, Ireland. He received his Passionist vows on August 6, 1865 at the Passionist novitiate in Broadway, England. He was ordained on January 1, 1870. Shortly after it became obvious that he had tuberculosis. First he was sent to the English Passionist-staffed parish in Paris, France. Then he was sent to Mexico where it was hoped that the climate would improve his health. While there he pursued the study of Spanish. But political problems in Mexico forced him, as a foreign born priest, to evacuate the country. That led him to seek refuge in the United States where he arrived in 1873. His health was very poor when he arrived at West Hoboken, New Jersey. Very quickly he then was assigned to St. Joseph’s Monastery in Baltimore, Maryland. For the two years before his death he preached locally and assisted at St. Mary’s Industrial School. Upon his death it was announced that he had been transferred from the English province to St. Paul of the Cross province in the United States.
Birth Date:
December 21, 1843
Profession Date:
August 6, 1865
Ordination Date:
January 1, 1870
Death Date:
September 7, 1875
Religious Name:
Francis X. of the Blessed Virgin Kelly