While all the attention in Louisville the last couple days has been on the shiny new archbishop, the folks at the local paper decided to give the departing shepherd his due. Retiring Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly talked with the paper about his plans for the months ahead:

“How I feel about leaving is, it’s very hard,” Kelly, 76, said during a recent interview in his office, surrounded by packing boxes. “I’ve been getting up every day responsible for this holy operation, and now I am passing it to another. I have full confidence in him, but I’m concerned about whether I’ll be able to fill the void in myself.

“However, it’s time for me to go. I have no qualms about that at all. The job needs a younger man, with full vigor.”

Kelly plans to spend an eight-month sabbatical at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., where he lived for many years before coming to Louisville.

It was while in Washington that Kelly became a bishop 30 years ago today, when he was serving in top administrative positions in the national bishops conference. But though he’ll be living just a short walk from the conference office, Kelly has no intention of rejoining the inner circles of Catholic administration.

“My primary and only priority is to enter the life of prayer” with his fellow Dominicans, Kelly said. “It’s a house I know well, where I’m pretty comfortable. Life is pretty austere. I hope I can get through that all right.”

They get up early and spend hours each day in prayer on stiff benches, he said.

“I thought of many actions — palm trees, the Amalfi Coast (in Italy), but this is what I would rather do more than anything in the world,” he said.

Kelly has already moved his belongings to his new residence at Holy Trinity Church in St. Matthews, where he’ll help with Masses and other services when he returns from his sabbatical in May.

Kelly said he was attracted by the possibility of helping a large parish with one priest that is in a picturesque area and committed to daily prayer services, in addition to Mass.

“I’m hoping for a prayerful existence,” he said, adding that at Holy Trinity, “nature is all in its favor. It’s all huge trees. Lovely people.”

I don’t doubt Louisville will keep him busy. He’ll be returning from sabbatical just in time for confirmation season.