Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher

1931 - 2024

Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher

July 31, 1931 - November 9, 2024

Kansas City, Kansas - Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher, 93, the tenth ordinary and third archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, died of natural causes on Nov. 9, 2024, at Santa Marta Retirement Community in Olathe.

He served as archbishop from Sept. 8, 1993, to Jan. 15, 2005, and continued to assist his successor Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann as archbishop emeritus in various ministries as his health permitted.

James Patrick Keleher was born on July 31, 1931, on the South Side of Chicago. He was one of the two children of James and Rita (Cullinane) Keleher. The family belonged to St. Felicitas Parish.

His father was a salesman for Will & Baumer Candle Company, which supplied area parishes. His mother, an immigrant from Ireland, was a nurse before becoming a homemaker.

He attended Mount Carmel High School for one year before he entered Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary. After graduating from the minor seminary in 1951, he entered the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. He graduated and was ordained a priest on April 12, 1958, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at St. Mary of the Lake by Cardinal Samuel Stritch.

Following ordination, Father Keleher continued his studies at St. Mary of the Lake and graduated with a doctorate in sacred theology in 1962. He served as chaplain from 1958 to 1961 at the convent of the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

He was a teacher and academic dean at Quigley Preparatory Seminary North from 1961 to 1969. Father Keleher served as associate pastor from 1961 to 1963 at St. Henry Parish in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.

In 1966, he was named the academic dean and taught religion and social studies at the North Campus of Quigley Seminary. While there, he graduated with a master's degree in educational administration from Loyola University of Chicago in 1967. He also did post-doctoral work in spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Father Keleher served as acting dean of studies and dean of formation from 1969 to 1972 at Niles College Seminary, Chicago.

From 1975 to 1978, he was rector of Quigley South. He became dean of formation and a teacher at St. Mary of the Lake in 1972 and was appointed president and rector in 1978.

On Oct. 23, 1984, Pope John Paul II appointed Father Keleher the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. He was consecrated bishop on Dec. 11, 1984, and served until 1993.

Pope John Paul II appointed him archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas on June 28, 1993, succeeding Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker. Archbishop Keleher was installed on Sept. 8, 1993, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Kansas City, Kansas.

As retirement age approached, Archbishop Keleher asked Pope John Paul II for a successor to ensure a smooth transition, so on Jan. 7, 2004, the pontiff appointed Auxiliary Bishop Joseph F. Naumann from the Archdiocese of St. Louis as coadjutor archbishop. Archbishop Keleher submitted his letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI on Jan. 15, 2005, and became archbishop emeritus.

Archbishop Keleher was preceded in death by his parents and sister Rita Zick. He is survived by two nephews, Steven and Robert (Kim) Zick, both of Chicago, a niece, Dianne James, of Boston, five great nieces and nephews and numerous cousins, both in the United States and in Ireland.

Visitation will be held at Curé of Ars Church, Leawood, Kansas, from 3 to 5:30 p.m., Sunday evening, Nov. 17 followed by the Vigil for the Deceased at 5:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, at Curé of Ars. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann will be the main celebrant and Father William O'Mara will be the homilist. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas.

Memorials may be made to Catholic Relief Services or to Sisters, Servants of Mary.