REV. MICHAEL P. KELIHER

Rev. Michael P.

Keliher, C.S.V., age 74, passed away Sept. 10, 2021 at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights, IL. Fr. Keliher was born Feb. 18, 1947 in Kankakee,

IL, the son of Joseph and Verna (Hudson) Keliher. He made his first profession Sept. 1, 1966 and was ordained a priest by Bishop Romeo Blanchette at St. Patrick Parish in Kankakee, on June 12, 1976. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Thomas J. Keliher. Fr. Keliher met the Viatorians when he attended Bishop Mcnamara High School in Kankakee. He went on to earn a B.S. degree in biology and pre-medicine in 1970 from Loyola University, Chicago, and a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago in 1975. Fr. Keliher taught biology and coached both wrestling and golf at St. Viator High School from 1970-1972 and from 1976-1985. He served as parochial vicar at Maternity B.V.M. Parish in Bourbonnais and at St. Viator Parish in Las Vegas before being named pastor of St. Jude Church in Rochester, IL in 1995. He returned to Kankakee to serve as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish, before serving in the same role at St.

Viator Parish in Chicago and at St. Thomas More Parish in Henderson, NV. He served one year as administrator at St. Thomas More before moving to the Viatorian Province Center residence in July 2019 when he retired. Visitation for Fr. Keliher will be at 10 a. m. Thu., Sept.

16, 2021 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kankakee, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Kankakee. Memorials may be made to the Clerics of St. Viator. Arrangements by Clancy-gernon Funeral Home Bourbonnais 815-932-1214. Please sign his guestbook at www.clancygernon.com.