Father John Benedict Kelly O.C.S.O. 1930 – 2011

Father John Benedict Kelly O.C.S.O.

Fr John died at Hastings NZ, on Thursday 17th November after a long illness. He was born in Allein, Co Tipperary Ireland on May 12, 1930. In 1950 he entered the Cistercian Abbey of Mount Melleray. In 1967 he came to New Zealand’s Southern Star Abbey, Kopua, Central Hawkes Bay because of his ability as a teacher. Fr John served the community in many capacities notably as Abbot from 1982 to 1998.

Fr Carl Telford (Editor MM 2000-2004) invited Fr John to write something on prayer. This  launched his writing career.For ten years Fr John’s faith-filled scholarly articles covered every aspect of God’s love and prayer. Each article stated a truth, found evidence for it in the writings of the masters or church documents, and then expressed it in plain words. He will be greatly missed by Messenger readers: his present series still has more articles to run, so he will continue to teach us from his place in eternal life.

Fr John was farewelled in a moving Requiem  Mass at the Abbey on 22nd November 2011