Obituary of Monsignor Raphael P. Keyes

Raphael Patrick Keyes was born on February 9, 1938 in Bantry, County Cork, Ireland, the son of the late Raphael Patrick Keyes and Bridget (O�Sullivan) Keyes. Father Keyes was baptized at St. Finnbarr Church on February 9, 1938 and confirmed by Bishop Daniel Cohalan of Cork, Ireland on May 7, 1958. He is survived by his brother, Markus and sister, Cait. His brother Michael preceded him in death. Father Keyes received his primary education at St. Finnbarr�s Primary School 1942-1951; later at Mungret College, Limerick 1951-1957 and finally at St. Kieran�s College 1958-1964. For a short period of time, Father Keyes was a novice of the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus until he joined the Diocese of Jefferson City as a seminarian in 1958. He received Subdiaconate and Diaconate in Ireland in 1963. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood of Jesus Christ on June 7, 1964 for the Diocese of Jefferson City by the Most Reverend Peter Birch, Bishop of Ossory, in the Cathedral of St. Mary, Kilkenny, Ireland. Bishop Joseph M. Marling, CPPS of Jefferson City, welcomed him to the United States and assigned him as an assistant at St. Francis Xavier, Taos in July 1964; and then on March 16, 1966 to the first cathedral of the Diocese, St. Peter�s in Jefferson City. With continued missionary spirit, in 1967 Father Keyes responded to Bishop Marling�s call for priests to serve in the newly-formed missions in Peru. Amid the challenges of political tension and upheaval during the 1960�s and 1970�s in his new mission field, Father Keyes served with distinction at Marcona and Nasca for 35 years. He was a Coordinator of the Mission Team for 20 years, and for many years served as an advisor to the Peruvian Bishops Conference. On May 28, 1989, Father Keyes celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Ordination at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City with Bishop Michael F. McAuliffe and his fellow jubilarian classmates. When Father Keyes returned to priestly service within the Diocese of Jefferson City, on July 1, 2002 Bishop John R. Gaydos appointed him administrator of St. Anthony Church in Camdenton. On November 1, 2002, he was appointed pastor of the Parish of St. Anthony in Camdenton and the Mission of Our Lady of Snows in Climax Springs. Then, on July 1, 2009, he was appointed pastor of St. Bernadette Church in Hermitage, in addition to his other pastoral responsibilities. He served these parishes until his death. Father Keyes was an appointed member of the Presbyteral Council from June 1, 2002 until his death. During his time on the Presbyteral Council, he held the offices of Secretary, Vice Chair, and then Chair from 2007 to 2010. He was appointed a Diocesan Consultor from 2003 to 2008. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Diocese of Jefferson City Mission Committee from April 2003 and a member of the Priests� Mutual Benefit Society Board from June 2005. Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI named him a Prelate of Honor on June 28, 2006. Internment will take place at a later date in Bantry, Ireland.