80 Years a Passionist: Priest celebrates 100th birthday and epic ministry

Parishioners of St Joseph's in Highgate, north London, rose a glass recently at their popular social club to Fr Christopher Kelly who joined their parish in 1978.

Christened Francis Joseph Kelly, he was born in Belfast on 2 April 1919, one of seven children to parents Michael and Margaret Kelly. His older brother James worked, with distinction, for the Irish Independent.

Francis/Fr Christopher was educated by the Christian Brothers in Belfast and attempted to join the Passionist Order in Ireland but was unable to as there were no vacancies.

On 3 January 1939, he got on a boat from Belfast to Heysham to join the Passionists at Broadway in Worcestershire. He recalls that 'it took a long time to adjust to life in a monastery. The whole day was spelt out by what was called the religious observance'.

Eventually, he was ordained on 28 April 1945 and sent to be the priest in a little parish in Addington where, he says: "I was my own boss there."

To read on see: http://passionists-uk.org/80-years-a-passionist-fr-christopher-kelly-celebrates-100th-birthday/