The Rev. James Kelly wakes at dawn each morning without an alarm clock, brews coffee, and celebrates Mass in his apartment living room for fellow residents of his retirement community. At 100 years old, the longest-serving priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia recently marked both his centennial birthday and the 75th anniversary of his ordination—milestones he nearly didn't reach after life-saving surgery last year.
Kelly's daily routine of celebrating Mass, baking pies, and listening to opera represents a lifetime of service that has touched thousands of lives across six continents, even as the Catholic Church grapples with declining attendance and seeks new ways to reach the faithful.
Throughout his priesthood, Kelly has baptized and married thousands of people while serving 19 years as pastor of Saint Pius X Parish in Broomall, Pennsylvania12. His unconventional approach to ministry included climbing 400 feet to the top of a bridge in his Roman collar to talk a suicidal man down, telling him: "What's your grandchild going to say one day: Papa, why didn't you take me fishing?"13
Born January 7, 1925, in Philadelphia's Roxborough neighborhood, Kelly knew his calling early. "When I was 4 or 5 years old, I'd play Mass," he recalls, describing how he set up a small altar in his room with his parents as his first congregants45.
Kelly's ministry extended far beyond Philadelphia's borders. He traveled to more than 100 countries, befriended opera superstar Joan Sutherland, and developed a friendship with Saint Teresa of Kolkata after meeting her in Philadelphia and later encountering her at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem12. His adventures included parachute jumping in Mexico and visiting Iguazu Falls, which he calls one of the most beautiful sights of his life34.
At Normandy Farms Estates in Blue Bell, Kelly continues ministering to a small congregation in his apartment. "When I moved here, I never thought I was going to have a private chapel!" says Kathleen Quigley, a retired nurse who attends his daily services15.
Kelly's approach to each day reflects a lifetime of faith. He begins each morning with the same prayer: "Lord, what surprise do you have for me today?"12 His apartment features a chalk drawing of the Virgin Mary that he created, a portrait of his mother, and an image of Carlo Acutis, the Catholic Church's first millennial-era saint12.
When asked about his secret to longevity, Kelly laughs: "I drink lots of milk and I say lots of prayers."13
