Son of Edward D. Kelly and Helen M. Barkhorn was born in Newark, NJ in October 1939. He was raised in South Orange and graduated from Our Lady of Sorrows School in 1953 and Seton Hall Preparatory School in 1957.
Michael Kelly attended Fairfield University in Connecticut and completed his undergraduate degree at Seton Hall University in 1962 and his Master of Arts degree at the same institution in 1969.
In May of 1966, after completing his studies in theology at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Mahwah, Fr. Kelly was ordained to the priesthood at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark by Archbishop Boland.
Fr. Kelly's first assignment was to Seton Hall Preparatory School in 1966 and he was a teacher, coach, and guidance counselor there until becoming Principal at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains in 1975.
After one year in that position, Archbishop Gerety assigned Fr. Kelly as Rector of the College Seminary at Seton Hall University. In 1980 Fr. Kelly was appointed Headmaster at Seton Hall Preparatory School. His Holiness Pope John Paul II named Fr. Kelly a Prelate of Honor, with the title of Reverend Monsignor in 1986.
Msgr. Kelly was honored in 1969 by the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of the Oranges as "Young Irishman of the Year." In 1985 he was the recipient of the Distinguished American Award presented by the Essex County Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. In 1986 Msgr. Kelly was inducted into the Seton Hall University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1987 Msgr. Kelly was honored as the "Sportsman of the Year" by the Mercier Club and the "Man of the Year" by the Lions Club of South Orange. In 1991he was honored by the St. Patrick's Guard of Honor of New Jersey as "The Outstanding Irishman of 1991." In 1995 Msgr. Kelly was honored by the Essex County Police and Fire Emerald Society. Also in 1995 Rotary International named him a Paul Harris Fellow. In 1996 he received the Lou Rettino Humanitarian of the Year Award at the Frank LaBarca Memorial Football Clinic. In 2000 he was honored as a Distinguished Graduate of Our Lady of Sorrows School. The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children honored Msgr. Michael Kelly, in May 1998 with the Vitae Discimus Award for his ongoing contribution to education in New Jersey. On March 17, 2000 Msgr. Kelly was awarded the St. Patrick's Medal by the Irish-American Law Student Association of Seton Hall School of Law.
He is active in community affairs, serving for twenty years as Police Chaplain in South Orange, Chaplain Captain in the New Jersey Amy Reserve National Guard from 1968 to 1975, and he is presently Chaplain to the Essex County Police. Archbishop McCarrick appointed him liaison to the Irish Community in the Archdiocese of Newark in 1990. Msgr. Kelly has been a member of the Executive Committee of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association since 1980 and was President for the 1991- 92 year. He is President of the Board of Control of the Iron Hills Conference and Chaplain of the Rotary Club of West Orange, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Principals' Council of the Archdiocese of Newark. In November 1991 Archbishop McCarrick appointed Msgr. Kelly to the Education Endowment Board of the Continue the Mission. In January of 1993 the Archbishop appointed him chaplain for the Knights of Columbus, Daniel L. McCormick Council No. 1831, South Orange. In 1995 he was appointed to the Seton Hall University Chancellor's Advisory Council. He continues to serve for many years as Chaplain of the West Orange St. Patrick's Parade Committee.