Diocese names Father Kelly as new Vicar for Vocations

Father Kelly succeeds Father Thomas Hoar, SSE.

Father Brian Kelly

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger is pleased to announce the appointment of Father Brian Kelly, pastor of the parishes of Saint Ambrose in Latham and co-pastor of Most Holy Trinity and St. Michael’s, both in Cohoes, as Vicar for Vocations, effective immediately. He succeeds Father Thomas Hoar, SSE, who has served as Director of Vocations and Clergy Formation since Aug. 1, 2022. Deacon Paul LeBlanc will continue to serve as Administrative Assistant.

While heading the Vocations Office, Father Kelly will continue to serve as pastor. He will be forming teams that will promote and foster vocations throughout the Diocese on all levels: families and parishes, schools and campuses.

As the mission to pray for, call forth and accompany men and women who seek to follow a call from the Lord to serve as clergy or religious belongs to every member of the Body of Christ, Bishop Scharfenberger has asked us all to pray for Father Kelly, his teams, and for all in every stage of formation, that God will continue to bless their work and our Diocese by sending us many more laborers for his vineyard.

As Father Hoar continues his healing mission at St. Edmund’s Retreat in Enders Island, we thank him for his dedication and work toward the formation of our clergy and religious and all whose lives he has touched, and we offer our prayers for him in his vital pastoral ministry.