Clare “Agnes Therese” Kelly

“One single thing at a time and leave the rest in the heart of the good God.”

-St. Julie Billiart

Sister Clare was born and grew up in the Roslindale section of Boston. A daughter of John and Mary Waldron Kelly, Irish immigrants, she was the sixth of nine children. Even in their early years, she and her five brothers and three sisters all felt blessed by the good God.

She was led to enter the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1946 after seeing the Sisters teach their students about God’s love, and she felt called by God to do the same. In her first ministry in Cambridge, Mass., she found herself in a setting similar to her own childhood experience. She remembers that in those days, they taught 50+ students in each class, there was no talking in line, and Sister was definitely in charge!

In addition to her teaching, parish ministry meant a great deal to her. She visited with parents about the trials and blessings of raising a family, tried to make sure they introduced the concept of prayer to their children (really just talking to God), and encouraged them to pray with their children. In her many years of service, among other locations, she served as parish Religious Education Coordinator in Hanson, Mass., and ministered at Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield, Mass.

Now in retirement at Notre Dame Long Term Care Center in Worcester, Mass., Sister Clare celebrated her 80th Jubilee as an SNDdeN in 2026. She expresses her greatest gratitude to God for “those people who love her and encourage her and continue in their own way to spread the word of Jesus.”

Updated in 2026