“Christ’s victory over death means that even though our earthly life will one day end, our life in Him and with Him will certainly continue. Everyone will one day pass from an imperfect human body to the glory and joy beyond, to an eternal life that is above and beyond our present understanding.”

Edwin F. Kelley was born in South Boston, Massachusetts, Sep. 4, 1923, the son of John D Kelley and Ellen McKenna. He was one of three children. After attending local schools, he entered the Stigmatine Seminary in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1938.

He pronounced his first vows on Sept. 9, 1941. In 1944, on that same date he made his perpetual profession.

Fr. Kelley’s service in the Stigmatine religious order took him to assignments as far away as Guam as well as New York and Virginia. 

His first assignment was in his native state of Massachusetts as assistant at Our lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Springfield, where he was very active with the youth of the parish and became the principal of the grammar school.

In 1950 he was appointed to the faculty of Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y. which is located in Westchester County just north of New York City.

In 1951 he furthered his association with young people and their educational experiences by transferring to Fr. Duenas Memorial School in  Agana, Guam as a faculty member.

Fr. Ed returned to the mainland in 1954 to become assistant at Our lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. There he continued his special interest in youth and teenagers in particular. His efforts on their behalf and his kindly direction are still remembered by many who are not parents of teenagers themselves.

One of Fr. Ed’s greatest desires was to serve as a chaplain in the United States Navy but health considerations made this impossible to his great sorrow. This did not deter him from himself to his ministry and he preached retreats and missions to all manner of people.

His great interest was in reaching the young people of each and every community into which he as invited. His correspondence list grew and grew!

Fr. Kelley arrived in Virginia in 1968 when was assigned associate pastor of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge. During his tenure there, he served as state chaplain for the Knights of Columbus.

In 1974 Fr. Kelley moved over to All Saints Parish in Manassas to serve as associate pastor. During his tenure there he served as chaplain for the local George Brent Council of the Knights of Columbus.

After two years at All Saints, he returned to Our Lady of Angels as pastor beginning in 1976.

In 1981, Fr. Kelley was given a sabbatical for health reasons, but a year later he was back at work in All Saints.

Upon his death in 1984, the local newspaper called Fr. Ed “a popular priest,” a testament to Fr. Ed’s enjoyment of people and his strong desire to be part of their lives. All Saints Church was filled to capacity for the prayer service held in his memory in a hot and humid July evening and also for the Mass of Christian Burial celebrated for him the following day.

One of the local priests was reported to have commented to a provincial councilor who took part in the funeral Mass that “if the rest of you Stigmatines are like Kell, you have a great community.”

Fr. Kelley’s remains were transferred to Milford, Massachusetts. The parishioners, conferees, and friends of Fr. Ed from Springfield and Pittsfield celebrated the Mass of the Resurrection and laid him to rest in Sacred Heart Cemetery amount the other Stigmatines who had gone before him in the eternal kingdom of the Father.