Irish 95-year old twin brothers celebrate platinum jubilee of their ordinations
A very special birthday took place on Saturday, 21 March, for Fathers Joe and Matt Kelly, as the twin brothers celebrated their 95th birthday together, as well as this year marking the special anniversary of their platinum jubilee – 70th – of their ordination in 1956 to the diocesan priesthood.
Father Joe is incardinated as a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin, and Father Matt is a priest of the neighbouring Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.
Father Joe’s recollections are of parish life throughout the Archdiocese of Dublin. He said, “I spent some time early in my ministry in Kilmeague Parish, which was where my grandparents were from. It was lovely to have that connection to my roots. My other appointments were in Finglas, Larkhill–Whitehall–Santry (as Parish Priest), and finally as curate in Bayside Parish in Raheny, Dublin, where I remained serving parishioners until recently.”
Reflecting on his life and ministry, Father Matt said, “I have had varied appointments throughout my life. An early one was with Tullow Parish, where I was also one of the Religious Education Inspectors to primary schools in the diocese. Following that, I was appointed to Carlow College, Saint Patrick’s Seminary, where I taught philosophy for about 20 years. I had several parish appointments, notably as Parish Priest in Kildare Town. I then retired as Parish Priest and became a curate in the parish of Kill/Ardclough, Co Kildare, where I stayed for the remainder of my ministry. Throughout my life, I was involved in Church music and spent many years as a choir director. When I moved to Kill, I joined the local choir, the award-winning Kill Singers, and I also sang in the church choir for many years.”
On Sunday, 17 May next, a Mass honouring the ministries of Fathers Joe and Matt will be concelebrated by Archbishop Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin, and by Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, at the Church of the Resurrection in Bayside, Dublin.
Pic: © Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference
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