- Francis Kelley
infobox bishopbiog
name = Francis Clement Kelley †
See = Oklahoma City
Title = Bishop of Oklahoma
Period =June 25 ,1924 —February 1 ,1948
Predecessor =Theophile Meerschaert †
Successor =Eugene J. McGuinness †
Previous post = Priest of Detroit
ordination =August 23 ,1893
bishops =
date of birth = birth date|1870|10|23|mf=y
place of birth =Vernon River, Canada Francis Clement Kelley (
October 23 ,1870 -February 1 ,1948 ) was the secondRoman Catholic Bishop of Oklahoma. He was a CatholicPriest for 54 years, and Bishop for 23 years.Early life
Francis Clement Kelley was born in
Prince Edward Island ,Canada . His early education andseminary training were in Canada, and he was ordained a priest for thediocese ofDetroit ,Michigan , in 1893. In 1905, he founded theCatholic Church Extension Society of the United States and was elected its first president. The Extension Society continues to do great work in promoting the mission of the Catholic Church in rural and mission areas of the United States. Kelley also founded and edited the quarterly Extension Magazine, which had more than 3 million subscribers during his administration. In addition to his editorial duties, he authored numerous booksFather Kelley was active in war and diplomacy during his day, and he served as a military chaplain during the Spanish-American War. As a diplomat, Kelley represented the bishops of Mexico during the
World War I Peace Conference inParis . He also initiated unofficial negotiations between the Vatican and the Italian government for a settlement of theRoman Question . Two years after the war, Kelley was sent to England by the Vatican to settle postwar differences over German and American missions. As president of the Extension Society, Kelley also represented the Mexican bishops during theCarranza Revolution . He established a seminary in Texas for exiled Mexican seminarians andclergy .Episcopacy
Infobox bishopstyles
name=Francis Kelly
dipstyle=The Most Reverend
offstyle=Your Excellency
relstyle=Monsignor
deathstyle=none |Kelley was
consecrated Bishop of Oklahoma in 1924. During his years as Bishop, he successfully resisted the agitation of theKKK and continued his work as the "Extension Bishop." Like other missionary dioceses in the country, Oklahoma received funds from the Extension Society to build and to furnish churches. Under his care the infant diocese grew to maturity. Bishop Kelley died inOklahoma City .In 1932 Bishop Kelley succeeded Bishop Joseph H. Conroy of Ogdensburg as Chairman of the Bishops Catholic Committee on Scouting. Under his leadership the Catholic Committee expanded to include 22 Archbishops and Bishops, one from each Ecclesiastical Province in the United States.
In 1934 the American hierarchy approved a "Plan of Cooperation" recognizing Scouting as serving the church's interest in the spiritual welfare of Catholic youth, and approving it as an approved youth program in the Church. Bishop Kelly was recognized by the
Boy Scouts of America with theSilver Buffalo Award in 1939, the first member of the catholic clergy to be so recognized.The Diocesan high school,
Bishop Kelley High School , in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well asBishop Kelley Catholic School , in Lapier, Michigan, are named for Bishop Francis Kelley.Books Written by Francis Kelley
*
The Last Battle of the Gods (1907)
*The City and the World (1913) - Short Stories
*Letters to Jack (1917)
*Charred Wood , a novel published under the name ofMyles Murdach
*Dominus Vobiscus (1922)
*Story of Extension (1922)
*When the Veil is Rent (1929)
*The Forgotten God (1932)
*Blood Drenched Altars (1933)
*Problem Island (1937)
*The Bishop Jots it Down (1939)
*Sacerdos et Pontifex (1940)
*Pack Rat (1942)
*Tales From the Rectory (1943)ee also
*
Bishop Kelley School for schools named after Francis Kelleyources
[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkelley.html Bishop Francis Clement Kelley (Catholic-Hierarchy) ] at www.catholic-hierarchy.org
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