It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Bishop Clarence Kelly, the revered founder of the Congregation of St. Pius V (CSPV), who bravely fought against cancer until his demise on December 2nd at the age of 82.

Renowned for his unwavering dedication to the tenets of Catholicism, Bishop Kelly held a prominent position within the Traditional Catholic movement. He fervently championed the revival of orthodox liturgical practices, firmly convinced of their indispensable role in nurturing the spiritual welfare of the devout. Although his endeavors to safeguard the Latin Mass garnered both commendation and censure, he resolutely stood by his deeply held beliefs.

Clarence Kelly was born in 1941, in Brooklyn, New York. He joined the United States Air Force in 1959. Clarence Kelly joined a seminary in Pennsylvania in 1964 and completed his novitiate year in 1966–1967. Kelly attended the Catholic University of America between 1967 and 1969 where he studied philosophy. He began his theology studies in 1969 at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York

Kelly entered the seminary at Econe in 1971, he received his ordination as a priest from Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre on April 14, 1973. Returning from Switzerland to America, he began his ministry on Long Island, New York offering Mass in a garage converted into a chapel by his brother, dedicated to St Pius V. In 1974, Father Kelly published a book titled “Conspiracy against God and Man” (Boston, MA: Western Islands) about the attack by Freemasonry on American society. Father Kelly eventually became SSPX District Superior in the U.S. North-East district.

Archbishop Lefebvre directed the SSPX’s American priests to follow the 1962 liturgical books. Father Kelly and eight other American priests refused to do this, advocating instead for a return to the pre-1955 edition of the Roman Missal. In April 1983, Father Kelly was one of the individuals referred to as ‘The Nine,’ who gained notoriety for being expelled by Archbishop Lefebvre. Prominent figures such as Fathers Donald Sanborn, William Jenkins, Anthony Cekada, Daniel Dolan, and several others were among the group. Kelly was replaced by Father Richard Williamson as the SSPX District Superior. Following their expulsion, Father Kelly and his companions proceeded to establish the Society of St. Pius V (SSPV).

The SSPV in it’s Statement of Principles questions whether the popes since 1958 have in fact been legitimate Roman Pontiffs, believing that “those who presently are thought to be occupying hierarchical positions in the Catholic Church are acting, for the most part, as though they do not have the Faith, according to all human means of judging”. Though the SSPV, like the Old Romans, does not claim the competency to decide on the question of sedevacantism. So it was that some of the original priests of the SSPV, such as Father Daniel Dolan, Father Anthony Cekada, Father Donald Sanborn, and Father Thomas Zapp, broke away from the society to become sedevacantists.

As superior of the SSPV Kelly’s quiet diligence and fidelity grew the Society’s apostolate in America. In 1984, he successfully founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Our Saviour. Later, on October 19, 1993, Bishop Alfred Mendez, a retired Roman Catholic Bishop of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, consecrated him to the sacred episcopate in Carlsbad, California. Following this, in the year 1996, Bishop Kelly established the Congregation of St. Pius V, and began building the Immaculate Heart Seminary in Round Top, New York.

Throughout his lifetime, Bishop Kelly dedicated himself unwaveringly to safeguarding the integrity of the teachings of the Catholic Church, striving to shield them from the dilution caused by contemporary influences. During the 1990s, he made regular appearances as a guest on the televised program “What Catholics Believe.” He was an unwavering advocate of orthodoxy and firmly recognized the significance of maintaining conventional principles within a constantly evolving society. On February 28th, 2007, Bishop Kelly consecrated Fr Joseph Santay, and on December 27th, 2018, co-consecrated Fr James Carroll to the holy episcopate. He leaves the Congregation with two bishops, ten priests, seven seminarians and five religious brothers.

His Grace ✠Jerome commends the faithful everywhere to pray for the soul of ✠Clarence Kelly and the priests of the Old Roman apostolate to offer Masses, and for us all to remember with thanksgiving his valiant efforts to retain and restore the perennial Catholic faith and liturgy to the Church.

Réquiem aetérnam dona ei, Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat ei. Requiéscat in pace. Amen.