November 1, 2019 — Kevin Kelly, S.J. was ordained to the diaconate in beautiful Perth, Ontario on Saturday, October 26th. The mass took place at his family’s home parish of St. John the Baptist. Many Jesuits, friends, and collaborators made the journey from Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa to participate in the celebration and spend the day with Kevin. Most Rev. Terry Prendergast, S.J., Archbishop of Ottawa, came to preside at the ordination. The liturgy was simple and beautiful. The archbishop highlighted in his homily the various ways in which God calls us to serve. Kevin’s own vocation is a particularly poignant example. After a long and successful career, he left it all behind in the most radical way to follow where God was calling him in religious life. Saturday marked a great step along Kevin’s journey into ordained ministry. He will now be able to serve the people of God in more ways, adding to his natural gifts of listening, spiritual guidance, and humble service.
After the mass there was a terrific reception in the hall around the corner from the parish. Friends, family, and Jesuits spent a couple of hours mingling and celebrating before most boarded buses headed back to Montreal or Toronto. Kevin’s family and a handful of Jesuits remained overnight to participate in Kevin’s first mass as a deacon where he preached wonderfully. Our prayers are with Kevin as he continues in his formation.
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