Rev. Thomas C. Kelley

The Rev. Thomas Kelley, described by his peers as a “Priest’s priest” with a “jovial, generous spirit,” advocate for the poor and a voice for the people of the south and east sides of Midland, died Monday evening. February 21, 2005, in a local hospital after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 62.

Kelley came to Midland eight years ago from the diocese of Erie, Penn. He found himself attracted to West Texas after having visited a friend and former seminarian. He became so taken with the people on the south and east sides, he learned to speak Spanish so he could celebrate the Mass with his largely Hispanic congregation.

A gifted homilist, Kelley spoke to the hearts of young and old alike, and his parish grew in numbers in the years he served, almost doubling, according to another Midland priest, within months after he began his service. He was also responsible for the re-establishment of the diaconate program in the diocese of San Angelo where in the last year, 30 deacon candidates were ordained, a substantial number given the current priest shortage throughout the church.