James Patrick Keleher

Last updated
His Excellency, The Most Reverend

James Patrick Keleher
Archbishop Emeritus of Kansas City
AppointedJune 28, 1993
InstalledSeptember 8, 1993
RetiredJanuary 15, 2005
Predecessor Ignatius Jerome Strecker
Successor Joseph Fred Naumann
Orders
OrdinationApril 12, 1958
by  Samuel Stritch
ConsecrationDecember 11, 1984
by  Joseph Bernardin, William Michael Cosgrove, and Thomas Joseph Murphy
Personal details
Born (1931-07-31) July 31, 1931 (age 92)
Chicago, Illinois
Previous post(s)
Styles of
James Patrick Keleher
Mitre (plain).svg
Reference style
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Archbishop

James Patrick Keleher (born July 31, 1931) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Belleville in Illinois from 1984 to 1993 and as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas from 1993 to 2005.

Contents

Biography

Early life and education

James Keleher was born on July 31, 1931, on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, to James and Rita (née Cullinane) Keleher. [1] His mother was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and came to Chicago in the 1920s, later abandoning her occupation as a registered nurse to raise her children. [2] His father was a salesman for Will & Baumer Candle Company, a liturgical candle manufacturer. [1]

James Keleher belonged to St. Felicitas Parish in Chicago, and briefly considered a career as a firefighter as child. [1] After attending Mount Carmel High School in Chicago for one year, he entered Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, graduating in 1951. He then studied philosophy and theology at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. [3]

Priesthood

Keleher was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal Samuel Stritch on April 12, 1958. [4] After his ordination, Keleher continued his studies at St. Mary of the Lake, obtaining a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1962 with a dissertation on the writings of St. Augustine. [1] [5] He also served during this time as chaplain and confessor to the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration at their monastery in Clyde, Missouri. [1]

In 1962, Keleher was named an associate pastor at St. Henry's Parish in the Rogers Park section of Chicago. In 1966, he also became academic dean and teacher of religion and social studies at the North Campus of Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. [1]

In 1969, Keleher was appointed dean of formation at Niles College Seminary in Chicago, then in 1972 took the same position at St. Mary of the Lake. His next position was as rector of the South Campus of Quigley until 1978. [1] During this period, he also furthered his studies in spiritual theology at Rome. In 1978 Keleher was named president and rector of St. Mary of the Lake, where he also served as an associate professor of systematic theology. [1] [5]

Bishop of Belleville

On October 23, 1984, Pope John Paul II appointed Keleher as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Belleville. [4] He was consecrated on December 11, 1984, by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, with Bishops William Cosgrove and Thomas Murphy serving as co-consecrators. [4]

Archbishop of Kansas City

Following the retirement of Archbishop Ignatius Strecker, Keleher was named the third archbishop of the archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, on June 28, 1993 by John Paul II. [4] He was installed at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 8, 1993. [4]

In 1996, Keleher started an education program to fight child sexual abuse in the archdiocese and instituted a background questionnaire for anyone working with children. Keleher established an independent review board in 2002 to investigate and issue recommendations on all allegations of sexual abuse. In 2003, he instituted VIRTUS, a national child abuse prevention program. [6]

On January 7, 2004, John Paul II appointed Bishop Joseph Fred Naumann to serve as coadjutor archbishop for the archdiocese. [7] On February 21, 2004, Keleher requested that parishes and other Catholic institutions within the archdiocese stop inviting politicians who support abortion rights for women to any events. This request was precipitated by the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas, inviting then Governor Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic who supports abortion rights, to speak at an event. [8]

Retirement and legacy

On January 15, 2005, Keleher submitted his letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI, having reached the minimum retirement age for bishops. [4] Later that year, Keleher started teaching part time at St. Mary of the Lakes Seminary. [9] Keleher has also visited state prisons in Kansas on a regular basis, including the celebration of a Chrism Mass in April 2011 at the Topeka Correction Facility in Topeka, Kansas. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago</span> Latin Catholic archdiocese in the United States

The Archdiocese of Chicago is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in Northeastern Illinois, in the United States. It was established as a diocese in 1843 and elevated to an archdiocese in 1880. It serves the more than 2.2 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in the state of Illinois, an area of 1,411 square miles (3,650 km2). The archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John George Vlazny</span> American prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1937)

John George Vlazny is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the tenth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon from 1997 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Saint Mary of the Lake</span> Catholic seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, US

The University of Saint Mary of the Lake (USML) is a private Roman Catholic seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. It is the principal seminary and school of theology for the formation of priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois. It was chartered by the Illinois General Assembly in 1844. USML is often referred to by the name of its graduate program, Mundelein Seminary. Its compound name is University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome E. Listecki</span> American Roman Catholic prelate

Jerome Edward Listecki is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has served as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary</span> Private high school seminary school in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary was an American seminary preparatory school administered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago for young men considering the priesthood. Located in downtown Chicago at 103 East Chestnut Street, adjacent to Loyola University Chicago's Water Tower campus, it closed on 22 June 2007, and became the Archbishop Quigley Center, the pastoral center and headquarters of the archdiocese after renovations ending 19 November 2008. Between 1961 and 1990, the seminary was split into two campuses: Quigley South and Quigley North, with Quigley North housed at the original building. The south campus was closed in 1990, with all seminary operations returning to the original building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas</span> Roman Catholic archdiocese in Kansas, USA

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is a Latin Church ecclesiastical province, or archdiocese, of the Catholic Church in eastern Kansas in the United States.

William Edward Cousins was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois, as bishop of the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois (1952-1958) and as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in Wisconsin (1958-1977).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Braxton</span> American Roman Catholic retired bishop

Edward Kenneth Braxton is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Belleville in Illinois, from 2005 to 2020.

Quigley Preparatory Seminary South was a Catholic high school administered by the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1961 through 1990. Quigley South was located at 7740 South Western Avenue on the South Side of Chicago. Quigley North and Quigley South were both named to honor James Edward Quigley, Archbishop of Chicago from 1903 to 1915.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Fred Naumann</span> American Christian cleric

Joseph Fred Naumann is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas since 2004. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis in Missouri from 1997 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Frederick Kicanas</span> American Catholic bishop

Gerald Frederick Kicanas is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Tucson in Arizona from 2002 to 2017. He served as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico from September 2018 to July 2019.

Thomas Joseph Murphy was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings in Montana from 1978 to 1987, as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle in Washington State from 1987 to 1991, and as archbishop of Seattle from 1991 until 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George James Rassas</span>

George James Rassas is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 2005 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis J. Kane</span>

Francis Joseph Kane is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Kane served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 2003 to 2018.

Edward Francis Hoban was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland in Ohio from 1945 to 1966. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Rockford in Illinois from 1928 to 1942 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1921 to 1928.

William Aloysius O'Connor was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois from 1949 to 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romeo Roy Blanchette</span> American prelate

Romeo Roy Blanchette was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois from 1966 to 1979.

Alfred Leo Abramowicz was an American prelate in the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1968 to 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John R. Gorman</span>

John Robert Gorman is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Gorman served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1988 to 2003. During his tenure as auxiliary bishop, Gorman was instrumental in the creating of the first internal review panel for sexual abuse allegations in an American archdiocese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond E. Goedert</span>

Raymond Emil Goedert is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Goedert served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1991 to 2003.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bollig, Joe (2008-05-09). "'The Priesthood Is Different': Archbishop Keleher celebrates his 50th anniversary as a priest" (PDF). The Leaven. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17.
  2. ↑ "KELEHER". The Chicago Tribune . 2001-10-14.
  3. ↑ "Pope Accepts Resignation Of Archbishop Keleher Of Kansas City In Kansas; Coadjutor Bishop Naumann Will Succeed". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops . 2005-01-15.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Archbishop James Patrick Keleher". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  5. 1 2 "Archbishop James P. Keleher". University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  6. ↑ "Bishop Accountability". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  7. ↑ "Archbishop Joseph Fred Naumann [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  8. ↑ "Pro-choice speakers targeted by archbishop". Deseret News. 2004-02-21. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  9. ↑ "Still sharing his wisdom at 82". Chicago Catholic. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  10. ↑ Langdon, Jessica (2012-01-20). "Ministry behind bars". The Leaven Catholic Newspaper. Retrieved 2021-12-18.

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Kansas City
1993–2005		Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Belleville
1984–1993		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.