August 26, 2009

A century of grace celebrated as woman turns 100

By John Gleason

She’s lived 100 years in the same home and in that time has worshiped at the same parish. So on Aug. 14, more than 150 family and friends gathered at St. Francis de Sales Church in Denver to celebrate the life of longtime parishioner Marion Kelly as she marked her 100th birthday. 

The Mass, celebrated by Marion’s nephew, Msgr. Robert Kinkel, V.F., was concelebrated by St. Francis pastor, Msgr. Frank Morfeld, and former pastors, Msgr. Raymond Jones, P.A., Msgr. David Croak and Father Manuel Gabel.  A reception and dinner were held in the high school gymnasium immediately following the Mass.

Msgr. Kinkel said he once asked his aunt if she thought she would live to see her 100th birthday. She replied she would if God willed it, the priest recalled. Msgr. Kinkel drew laughter from the congregation when he added that his aunt said the only problem was she would outlive her contemporaries.

“Marion has had such an impact on south Denver, especially in this parish,” Msgr. Kinkel said.  “She had her beginning here and I’m sure if the walls of this church could speak, the stories of her would fill volumes.”

Not only was Marion baptized and married at St. Francis de Sales, but she also buried her husband and two sons at the parish, Msgr. Kinkel said.

“The importance of community, the importance of faith helped her through those times,” he said.  “She still attends daily Mass and once said that one of the biggest difficulties of growing old was that she could no longer take Communion to the aged any more.”

Born when William Howard Taft was president and the fastest mode of transportation around town was a horse, Marion still lives in the same house where she was born in 1909.  She graduated from St. Francis de Sales Grade School in 1924 and was a member of the first graduating class of St. Francis de Sales High School in 1928.

“I’m the only one left,” she told the Denver Catholic Register, referring to her graduation class.  “But I’ve had the chance to work with so many good people, I’m sure that’s one of the secrets to living 100 years.”

In 1940, Marion married Ralph Kelly. The couple had four children.  Ralph Kelly died in 1955. Left to raise her children alone, Marion did so with the same energy and devotion that she put into her work in the parish, according to her son Bill.

“She was a great mom,” he told the Register, “and it’s been her faith that has been her greatest strength.  Whatever comes at her, she accepts; she has been the recipient of blessing after blessing, which led her to believe that life is wonderful.”

Marion has been active in many ministries in the parish including the Legion of Mary and the Altar and Rosary Society.  She was a founding member of the Archbishop’s Guild and the Friends of Carmel, which raises money to help support the Carmelite monastery in Littleton.

Msgr. Morfeld, who met Marion when he first came to St. Francis as an assistant in 1951, said of his parishioner, “You’ll never find a finer, more pious lady.

“I don’t know how much money she’s raised in the years of pledge drives for the (Carmelite) monastery,” he added, “but it must be significant.”

Sister Rita Moriarty, C.S.J., director of religious education at St. Francis, organized the birthday celebration.  She told the Register that when she came to the parish in 1976, Marion was immersed in many activities in the Church.

“She is the most generous person I’ve found,” Sister Moriarty said.  “She made time for all the clubs and organizations in the parish during the week; she would take Communion to shut-ins after Sunday Mass and if someone needed a ride to the doctor, she was the first to volunteer. She is so active that I think we’d run out of things for her to do before she ran out of time.”

At the conclusion of Mass, Msgr. Morfeld presented a plaque to Marion, and summed up her years at St. Francis parish.

“A hundred years in the same home, the same parish, is quite a happening,” he said.  “In that time, you’ve gone through five pastors, one administrator and 45 assistants.  As a member of the parish, you’ve celebrated the happenings of God’s mercy to us all, including 5,568 baptisms, 2,401 marriages and 3,400 funerals.

“We’re here to mark not only your birthday,” he added, “but to celebrate with you the great gift of God’s love for you.”

In closing, he shared the plaque’s inscription.

“Hail Marion, full of grace, the Lord is with you,” Msgr. Morfeld read. “Blessed are you among women.”