At 100, the longest-serving priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia still says daily Mass

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(28 Jun 2025)
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blue Bell, Pennsylvania - 26 June 2025
1. Various of Father James Kelly holding a mass in his apartment for residents in the retired living community
2. Mid of religious statue of the Virgin Mary
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3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rev. James Kelly, Archdiocese of Philadelphia:
“My name is Father Kelly, my name James Joseph Kelly. I was born January the 7th, 1925. My mother told me I was 11 pounds. I was ordained in 1950, and my first assignment was in Holy Savior Norristown. Well, all I can say is when I was a little kid, I had my own little table in my room, and I had a little glass with some flowers in there and I would play mass. So, I had candy and give the family communion with candy.”
4. Tilt down from a certificate from Pope Francis on 75th anniversary of his ordination
5. Various of Father Kelly looking at a picture book
6. Father Kelly handing off communion bread with UPSOUND (English), “The body of Christ”
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7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rev. James Kelly, Archdiocese of Philadelphia:
“I’m practicing as a priest in many parishes, baptizing people, and the marriages, they're in the thousands I gather that I baptized people. I can't count the number of the people that I've married and have been involved in their lives. And the funerals that I've said. I hope I've helped many others in my journey in this highway of life. That's all I can say is, Lord, you know, I tried my best. It may not have been the best I could have done, but I did try. That's all I could say is never stop trying and eventually you get it right.”
8. Various of Father Kelly placing his rope in a suitcase
9. Cut away of cross on the bottom of a chalice


STORYLINE:
Throughout his remarkable lifetime, the Rev. James Kelly has baptized thousands of people, married thousands more, ministered to the sick in hospitals, and traveled extensively around the world.

The longest-serving priest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of his ordination and his 100th birthday. He’s grateful to have reached these milestones and tries to make his life count each day.

Kelly wakes up at dawn to celebrate Mass at the retirement living community that he now calls home. He listens to opera. He bakes pies.

Born on Jan. 7, 1925, in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Roxborough to a devoutly Catholic family, Kelly's path to the priesthood seems ordained from the start. Kelly loved attending church, though other children found it boring. And while they dreamt of becoming athletes, doctors or firefighters, he wanted to be a priest.

He treasures other memories: Traveling to more than 100 countries. Meeting St. Theresa of Kolkata, who was known as Mother Theresa, during one of her visits to Philadelphia, becoming friends over the years, and then running into her when they visited the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

These days, he enjoys simple pleasures: the taste of cherries, a beautiful song, a meal. His favorite is roast chicken with mashed potatoes, fresh string beans and corn on the cob.

He loves learning and often attends lectures on music, art history and Egyptology at the Normandy Farms Estates retirement community where he lives in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.

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AP Video by Tassanee Vejpongsa

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