Edward J. Kelly came from South Australia to Melbourne as a boy. He lived in St Kilda before studying for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Manly, Seminaire de Mans, France and Propaganda College, Rome. Returning to Melbourne in 1885, he served in the St Kilda East, Carlton and Footscray parishes. He was then Parish Priest of North Fitzroy from 1894 until his death (after a long illness) in 1918. He was co-founder of the
Australian Catholic Truth Society (q.v.) and was the author of Australian Catholic Truth Society pamphlets, including
Louise de la Vallière (1905).