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Reverend Moses Elias Kiley, S.T.D. 1940-1953
Moses Elias Kiley was born on November
13, 1876, in Margaree, Cape Breton, Novia Scotia. He was ordained
a priest on June 10, 1911, in Rome. Kiley’s studies for priesthood
in Rome left him with a strong sense of central authority,
which he brought to Milwaukee.
Before coming to Milwaukee, Kiley served
in Chicago as an associate pastor in a Chicago parish and
director of a mission for homeless men. There, he gained the
attention of Archbishop Mundelein, who taught him the skills
needed to be a bishop.
In the 1920s, Kiley was appointed the spiritual
director of the North American College in Rome. His experience
on several curial commissions earned him an appointment as
the Bishop of Trenton, New Jersey. After six years in Trenton,
Kiley was chosen to head the Milwaukee archdiocese after the
transfer of Archbishop Samuel Stritch to Chicago. He was consecrated
to the episcopacy on March 28, 1940.
The diocese celebrated its centennial under
Kiley in 1943. Due to the centennial celebration, he was charged
with restoring the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, which
had been gutted by a major fire in 1935.
Kiley also rebuilt the St. Aemillian orphanage,
which had also suffered major fire damage in the 1930s. Additionally,
he renovated Saint Francis Seminary, and converted Pio Nono
High School into Saint Francis Minor Seminary. Despite these
changes, however, the budget-minded Kiley was reluctant to
spend money on other projects, which left a large task for
his successor.
The Second World War marked Kiley’s episcopacy,
as chaplains were needed for the millions entering the armed
forces. About 25,000 Catholics from the archdiocese joined
the Armed Forces, and 30 priests from the archdiocese volunteered
as chaplains.
In a period also marked by a surge in Catholic
devotionalism, the growing number of Catholic families led
Kiley to establish a Catholic Family Life Bureau in 1948.
Archbishop Kiley was eventually immobilized
by his deteriorating health, and Auxiliary Bishop Roman Atkielski
took on more of his duties. Kiley died on April 15, 1953,
in Milwaukee.
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