Roger P. Schroeder in his book, "What is the Mission of the Church? A Guide for Catholics, Orbis Books, 2008) defines Mission as "proclaiming, serving and witnessing to God's reign of love, salvation and justice." (p. 3)
Fr. Gerry Kelly's whole life in mission and Maryknoll exemplify this definition of mission. How? His biography and list of activities show how he has lived this definition of mission to the fullest.
Fr. Kelly was ordained in 1967 and assigned to Chile. Learning Spanish, he worked with the Mapuche Indians in Chile for 10 years. This indigenous group in southern Chile lost two-thirds of their lands in the late 1880's and were placed on reservations. Due to this resettlement much impoverishment resulted. Working with Franciscan Sisters in 16 one-room schools and two boarding schools, Kelly immersed himself in the Mapuche culture. He formed "animators of the faith" and initiated several agricultural projects, raising pigs and cattle and forming cooperatives. It was during this time that the military coup occurred putting severe strains on the whole community.
Fr. Kelly's next mission was in St. Michael's Parish in Talcahunao, Chile. A bedroom community for workers in the steel plants and fishing industry, Kelly developed family catechetical and youth programs in the community. Key to his ministry was the development of Base Christian Communities.
This was followed by Fr. Kelly becoming the Regional Coordinator for Maryknoll-Chile. Maryknoll moved into newer commitments where the Chilean Bishops asked for assistance. As coordinator, Kelly traveled the twelve countries where Maryknoll ministered. Central America was experiencing tumultuous times during these years. Many new apostolates including the increase of activity by the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, emerged.
After 25 years of ministry in Latin American, Fr. Kelly returned to Boston where he was assigned to the Promotion Department. In his new capacity he worked with the Global Village programs; worked actively with the Peace and Justice team of the Archdiocese and joined the Haitian and Colombian Solidarity teams.
In January of 2002, Fr. Kelly moved to Houston, Texas. In this role, Kelly has had an impressive impact on mission activities in the Southern Region. He guided his promoters in New Orleans, Jacksonville, San Antonio and North Texas to new levels of mission education and involvement in local ecclesial structures, e.g. Diocesan Mission Councils, Parish Mission Councils, Diocesan Peace and Justice activities.
Besides providing visionary, creative and supportive guidance to his team, he threw himself into the challenge of mission in the Archdiocese of Galveston- Houston. He was instrumental in forming the Galveston-Houston Mission Council. He personally accompanies a number of mission trips to Central America providing formation, spiritual guidance and overall direction to what mission is all about. His involvement has been across cultures, languages and classes in Houston. One example is he has accompanied a group of young Hispanic adults for years, providing spiritual and theological formation as preparation for their annual overseas mission trips they make to a number of South American Countries. He is active in the Diocesan Vocation Committee, a member of Houston Peace and Justice and Pax Christi.
One signature characteristic of Fr. Kelly's mission ministry is his full commitment and support of the Maryknoll Affiliates. The southern region has an impressive array of Maryknoll Affiliates throughout the southern region. Kelly understood early on that the Maryknoll Affiliates is one effective way of forming communities of missionary disciples especially for people who have experienced often the transformative nature of a short-term mission trip..
Fr. Kelly is tireless but always ready to take on a new mission challenge. He has been the key person to keep alive the Texas Mission Conference (the only type of Conference in the US!). The Conference has representatives from most of the Texas Dioceses, and has an episcopal liaison from the Texas Conference of Bishops. The Conference sponsors an annual Mission Conference where theological speakers provide insights on mission; participants pray, plan and laugh together.
The Spirit appears to provide time, energy and never-ending vision to Fr. Kelly's mission life. His most recent accomplishment is his organizing of the Third Wave Institute (one of the four teams of the newly restructured Church Engagement Division Program (CED). The Third Wave of Mission Institute was formed to respond to the needs of the recent emergence of Catholics involved in short-term mission and parish efforts. The Institute has produced several videos with accompanying booklets to help groups prepare for the increasing numbers of people going on short-term mission trips.
Back to our definition of mission: "Mission is proclaiming, serving and witnessing to
God's reign of love, salvation and justice. Kelly has PROCLAIMED loudly and consistently the Gospel message of mission; he has SERVED in so many capacities thru his 50+ years of ministry to further the Gospel mission message and he has WITNESSED through his own life and his influence on scores of others the call to do mission! His LOVE of people, his commitment to the SALVIFIC mission message of the Gospel and his long history with JUSTICE issues, makes him a MAN OF MISSION!
Written by: Alfonso Mirabal
October 5, 2016
Link to a video tribute to Fr. Gerry done by Father Dave LaBuda, MM.