I grew up in Lowell, Mass. and after graduating from Merrimack College, I taught high school science and math for several years. After many discussions and reflections, I decided to try to help others by my life in the priesthood.

I entered the Holy Cross Fathers seminary at Stonehill College. I spent one year in the novitiate in Bennington, Vt. and then did graduate work in Washington D.C. and received a degree from Notre Dame. 

After ordination in 1970, I was on a mission band for six years, living and working out of North Dartmouth, giving missions and retreats in parish settings, retreat houses and to religious communities. The retreat work was enjoyable and I met a lot of good people searching for their Church after the changes that took place with the implementation of Vatican II. This time allowed me the chance to “fill in” at hospitals and various parishes. I spent a total of three months in the parish in Times Square as well as about four months at St. Patrick Cathedral, in New York. 

During these years I saw some of the best parishes and some of the worst. I saw some of the best in religious life and some of the worst. I saw some of the best in human nature and some of the worst. It was an enriching experience indeed. 

I spent the next six years in a parish in central Vermont. The Bethel parish covered close to 350 square miles and between two of us priests, there were five churches. Every other weekend there was a drive of 80 miles just to get to the churches for Mass. There was a lot of poverty in the area, including the church property. There were also two major ski areas in the parish. This was in the mid 70s, the time when a lot of people were returning to nature, giving up big jobs and taking a pay cut for the quality of life. I met some beautiful people in the hills and at the resorts. Many people allowed me to share in their lives some very significant moments.

From the hills of Vermont, I moved to Texas to be with Father Larry Bauer, CSC. He had spent 40 years in the hills of Bangladesh, worked 14 hours per day, and then made a holy hour every night. He was an inspiration to me and to all who knew him. Despite the fact that he was ordained the year I was born, I was the pastor. The parish was in Copperas Cove, near Fort Hood military base and most of the people were from somewhere else, having been assigned there for three years or having chosen to retire in the area. Again I was privileged to meet so many beautiful people at very significant times in their life. 

My next assignment was back in Massachusetts in a parish in South Easton, where there were new experiences and many wonderful people.

As a gift for my 25 years as a priest, I had the opportunity to take a nine-month long sabbatical in Berkeley, Calif. For a person who grew up in Massachusetts, I always considered anything outside of Route 495 as far west. Going to California was a delightful experience. I attended workshops and classes with approximately 50 others, men and women. The speakers were some of the best and were for the most part inspirational. The Berkeley experience was exciting. 

As my present to the community for the gift of the sabbatical, I agreed to be a curate in Bennington, Vt. for five years and as a curate in St. Mary’s Parish in Taunton for two. It was yet another chance to meet some wonderful people who shared part of their life with me and inspired me.

I was later named pastor and the only priest in Bennington. The staff meetings improved markedly as I always had good thoughts. Many of the staff meetings were on the chair lifts of Loon Mountain.

I have been fortunate to have never lived alone, but have lived with other priests or brothers. 

Some of my activities since my ordination have had little to do with religion or priestly life. As one speaker described the life of a pastor, it concerns the big L’s: lights, locks, ledgers, lawns, laws and leaks. 

During the last 39 years, many events stand out. There have been the deaths of my parents and other friends and relatives. There’s been the changing view of the priesthood, with many friends who are holier than I and much more effective, choosing to leave the active priesthood. There’s been a change in family life, with the joke that what used to be a dedicated family having several members entering religious life has now become a dysfunctional one. 

As everyone who has worked in a parish, I have my share of “war stories” about weddings that most people would not believe. I have several sermons that people talk about and recall years later; many of these come from the very touching times of deaths and funerals, whether out of time or when death came as a welcome friend.  

I remember the moving notes that I have received that I have never shared with anyone, the notes of people thanking me for helping them not to end their life, or about the work of God touching people though my presence. Often I have had many children call me God, but no parish council members among them. I have received great inspiration from families and friends living a faith-filled life. These are the things that come to mind.

Father Kelly is pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Taunton.