Father James Kelly ’42: 100-Year-Old Celebrates Rare Diamond Jubilee

At 100 years old, Rev. James Kelly '42 stands as a living testament to the enduring power of faith, education, and dedication to service. Having recently celebrated a remarkable 75th anniversary of his ordination — an accomplishment virtually unmatched in the history of the American priesthood — Fr. Kelly is considered the longest-serving priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, as well as one of the oldest living Prep alumni. 

Born into a modest family in Roxborough, Fr. Kelly's path to the Prep was uncertain. “Because of my family’s financial situation and transportation issues, I couldn’t attend the Prep initially, even though I had earned a scholarship,” he recalls. Instead, Fr. Kelly began high school at St. John’s in Manayunk. It was there that Fr. Kelly was taught by a few priests who had attended the Prep, and was inspired to continue pursuing admission to the Prep. After two years, that opportunity would come to fruition. 

As any new student can attest, adjusting to the Prep can be difficult. It was no different for Fr. Kelly. “[Prep Principal] Rev. John Lenny, S.J. would call me into his office and he would tutor me constantly,” Kelly says. While he quickly grew to excel academically, Fr. Kelly also fondly remembers his time outside the classroom. “I played basketball and tennis, and I swam. I was a well-rounded student,” he says. 

The Prep ultimately laid the foundation for Fr. Kelly’s pursuit of the priesthood, a vocation shared by many of his classmates, and one Fr. Kelly had felt for years. “Since I was a little boy, I always wanted to be a priest,” he says. “Some kids played school — I played Mass.”

Fr. Kelly entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, where he remembers relying on his Prep education, particularly in Latin and Greek. “It was challenging, but that strong foundation from the Prep helped me make it through,” he says.

He went on to serve in parishes throughout the Philadelphia region, beginning at Holy Savior Church in Norristown, saying Mass in Italian; retiring as pastor of St. Pius Parish in Broomall in 2000; and then volunteering for 19 years at the Epiphany of Our Lord Church. Fr. Kelly’s ministry, though, was not bound by the parishes he served. He shares stories of blessing mushroom farms in Reading and Kennett Square and volunteering at hospitals (including a stint as the Catholic Chaplain at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital). On multiple occasions, Fr. Kelly was faced with saving people’s lives during their mental health crises.

Now, Fr. Kelly resides at Normandy Farms Estates in Blue Bell. Despite recent health challenges, he remains active, celebrating Mass daily and participating in community events. He chuckles when considering the “celebrity status” he has received, being covered by numerous news outlets (6ABC, CBS3, CatholicPhilly.com, the Associated Press, and more).

When asked what advice he would give current Prep students, Fr. Kelly says, “Stay close to the Lord and pray daily,” recalling advice he had received from famed Bishop Fulton Sheen, whom he once chauffeured to a retreat. “That’s your strength, your energy, your love.”