• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Father John. J. Kelmartin, a former pastor of St. Bartholomew in Manchester and Our Lady of Victory in Arbutus who taught in several seminaries across the country, died March 7 at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. He was 83.

Father Kelmartin, area pastor, dies

January 19, 2012
By Catholic Review
Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries

Father John. J. Kelmartin, a former pastor of St. Bartholomew in Manchester and Our Lady of Victory in Arbutus who taught in several seminaries across the country, died March 7 at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. He was 83.

Bishop William C. Newman, retired eastern vicar, offered Father Kelmartin’s funeral Mass March 14 at Our Lady of Victory. Bishop Newman grew up in Father Kelmartin’s home parish of Blessed Sacrament in northeast Baltimore and was an altar server at Father Kelmartin’s first Mass after his ordination in June, 1949.

Father Kelmartin served with the Sulpicians during his early years as a priest, teaching at St. Charles College Seminary in Catonsville – his alma mater that he entered when he was a young teen. He later served at St. Edward’s Seminary in Seattle and was rector of St. Stephen’s Seminary in Hawaii for five years.

After serving as an associate pastor of St. Joseph in Sykesville, Father Kelmartin was named pastor of St. Bartholomew in 1979 and became pastor of Our Lady of Victory in 1987.

Although Father Kelmartin retired in 1994 after having quintuple bypass surgery, he continued to assist at many area parishes including St. Thomas More in Baltimore and St. Mark, Fallston.

Bishop W. Francis Malooly, western vicar, described Father Kelmartin as a much-loved priest among his parishioners who was very generous with his time. Father Kelmartin promoted the idea of a new church for St. Bartholomew, a dream that was finally realized last year.

“He was able to come back and be present at the dedication,” said Bishop Malooly, who had known Father Kelmartin since the early 1980s. “The parishioners welcomed him with open arms. He was good with everyone.”

Father John Bowen, S.S., a close friend who attended primary school at Blessed Sacrament, said Father Kelmartin had an Irish wit and a deep love for his family.

“He was very much alive to his priesthood,” said Father Bowen, the homilist at his friend’s funeral liturgy. “He was one of the best priests I’ve ever known.”

Father Kelmartin was “quite unassuming,” Father Bowen said. He was willing to take whatever assignment came his way.

“He went where he was sent,” Father Bowen said. “He enjoyed what he was doing at any given time.”

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Catholic Review

The Catholic Review is the official publication of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Pre-Vatican II Mass was formed by ‘clericalization,’ says papal preacher
  • Pathfinders: Five Archdiocese of Baltimore women who made history
  • Fire guts historic Catholic school in parish connected to St. John Neumann
  • Suspect pleads not guilty in murder of LA Auxiliary Bishop O’Connell
  • Movie Review: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4, a festival of fatality’

| Latest Local News |

Maryland entrepreneurs get support for start-ups at local Catholic universities

Cathedral of Mary Our Queen to host world premiere of Passion setting

RADIO INTERVIEW: 52 Masses – Quest Complete

| Latest World News |

Diocesan officials call mass shooting at Nashville Presbyterian school ‘sad, shocking,’ urge prayers for victims, families

‘Pray for God’s hand’ over Mississippi: destructive tornado kills, injures dozens

Maryland family connects with Poland’s Ulma family, murdered by Nazis

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Diocesan officials call mass shooting at Nashville Presbyterian school ‘sad, shocking,’ urge prayers for victims, families
  • Maryland entrepreneurs get support for start-ups at local Catholic universities
  • Cathedral of Mary Our Queen to host world premiere of Passion setting
  • RADIO INTERVIEW: 52 Masses – Quest Complete
  • ‘Pray for God’s hand’ over Mississippi: destructive tornado kills, injures dozens
  • Maryland family connects with Poland’s Ulma family, murdered by Nazis
  • National Eucharistic Revival aims to form disciples on mission with new Easter series
  • Confession is ‘encounter of love’ that fights evil, pope tells priests
  • Laws, lawsuits and adult involvement needed to save kids from social media ‘harm,’ say experts

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED