We welcome Fr. Kelley to our parish and look forward to the sharing of his vast experience and spirituality with us.

Fr. Kelley was named pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in York and Sacred Heart Parish in Spring Grove in June 2025.

Background

He was born in Chambersburg, PA, and grew up Lebanon, PA, attending the parish of St. Gregory the Great (which was merged with St. Gertrude to become St. Cecilia).

He graduated from Cedar Crest High School in 1991, and then graduated cum laude from West Chester University in 1996 with a B.S. in Music Education. His principal instrument is the tuba. He also graduated with a minor in psychology. 

He marched drum and bugle corps with the Crossmen ('93 & '94) out of Bensalem, PA and Newark, DE, and then with the Reading Buccaneers ('95-'00, '02) and the Hawthorne Caballeros ('01). He arranged and taught brass for the Buccaneer Alumni Corps in '01 and '02, then continued playing with the alumni (time commitments did not allow continuing on staff). 

He arranged and taught music for the marching band at Lebanon Catholic ('98-'07), winning championships twice in that time, and at York Catholic for two years.

After teaching classroom music in New York and Maryland, he worked as a business analyst/team lead at Zurich Financial Services in Baltimore, Maryland until leaving to attend seminary in 2007. 

He graduated summa cum laude from Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, PA with a Masters in Divinity and a pontifical Bachelors in Sacred Theology from San Anselmo in Rome (through Saint Vincent).

 Past Assignments/Experience

His previous assignments were as transitional deacon at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Mechanicsburg and Mother of Sorrows in Murrysville, PA (2012-2013). Parochial Vicar at Saint Joseph's Parish in Hanover, PA (2013-2015). Parochial Vicar at Saint Joseph's Parish in Lancaster, PA and San Juan Bautista in Lancaster, PA (2015-2016). Pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in Columbia, PA (2016-2022). Pastor at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Gettysburg, PA (2022-2025). 

He is also chaplain to the diocesan program for the formation of spiritual directors, and serves on retreats for Catholic Engaged Encounter and Rachel's Vineyard.   

Family

He has one sister. She and her husband and two children, and his parents, are parishioners here at St. Patrick in York. 

Interests

In recreation time he plays golf with his dad and friends, plays tuba, enjoys reading about the Catholic faith, and watching movies. He enjoys watching Doctor Who, the Baltimore Ravens, the Chosen, and various sci-fi and fantasy movies and series. He enjoys charcuterie, sushi, and steak. And grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup.