Msgr. Raymond Kelly, retired pastor of St. Malachy parish, East New York, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on Dec. 20. He currently lives at Bishop Mugavero Residence for retired priests in Douglaston.

Born in Brooklyn, he was raised in St. Vincent Ferrer parish, Flatbush, and attended Cathedral College; Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington; and the North American College, Rome.  He was ordained Dec. 20, 1961 in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome.

He served as an assistant at St. Barbara, Bushwick, 962-64; St. Athanasius, Bensonhurst, 1964-73; and St. Bartholomew, Elmhurst, 1973-83.

He was pastor at St. Malachy from 1983 until his retirement in 2007. He also has served on the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal. He was named a monsignor in 2003