Kelly is a bilingual author, therapist, storyteller, public speaker and gifted musician. His audiences have claimed him as a compassionate healer, a gentle giant and an insightful and wise teacher who is a lot of fun.
An international university education and more than twenty years as a Dominican Friar have shaped Kelly’s life. Following his undergraduate years at the University of Western Ontario and l’Université de Montréal, Kelly continued with post graduate studies for ten years at the Faculté Dominicaine de théologie, Ottawa; the Aquinas Institute of Theology and the University of Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa; the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana; Convento San Marco, Florence, Italy and with Ivan Illich at CIDOC in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
From 1972 he served as Prior of the Dominican Order in English-speaking Canada for nine years. He taught at the Facult_ Dominicaine de Th_ologie, Ottawa, York University and Trinity College in Toronto and at Huron College in London. He also taught courses in continuing education at the Toronto School of Theology and at the Vancouver School of Theology. He continues to be a popular retreat and workshop leader throughout North America. He offers retreats, coaching and workshops at Ash Croft, his home in the Hockley Hills, outside of Toronto.
In 1981, Kelly left the Dominican Order and continued to share his gifts in new ways. Twelve years as a therapist coupled with his philosophical and theological background serve as a backdrop to his presentations which are always rich and current. Due to that spirit, he is invited to speak and perform throughout North America to audiences as varied as police, funeral services, financial and government institutions, medical and legal teams, clergy and artistic communities. He is a strong voice in the midst of a world that is constantly in flux.
Three books have flowed from his life experiences. In 1995, he wrote Loss of Soul: Burnout, a national best seller, now in its second edition. In 2000, it was followed by his popular Dancing on the Ark: facing change in uncertain times (what every Noah ought to know). His latest work, Growing Somewhere: living life after mid-life reaches out with hope to his contemporaries.
After leaving the Priory, Kelly toured extensively with the renowned Irish singer-harpist Mary O’Hara. As a solo performer he has played to packed houses. He is often seen on stage these days with Mark DuBois, tenor and Susan Cooper, mezzo soprano, Dini Petty, Billy Newton-Davis and Eric Nagler as they pull their hearts and talent together to create shows for all sorts of charities. He also performs regularly at Ash Croft and offers intimate concerts, generally with some musical friends.
After recording 24/42 and Nomad in the 80s, Kelly has continued with two new CDs to date. All My Life is a compilation of his own songs, which he sings with some of the best musicians in the country at his side. River Ash is a gentle work comprising piano improvisations. He is currently preparing a new album of piano improvisations called Somewhere.
Kelly has recently moved to his new home in Stratford Ontario, home of the famous Shakespearean Festival.
