Father James F. Barry, 69, who has been pastor at St. Mary Parish in Salem since 2004, will retire Dec. 1.
Father Barry, born in Philadelphia, attended St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa., and the University of Notre Dame, before being ordained on May 20, 1967 in Camden. His first assignment was as parochial vicar, Our Lady of the Angels, Cape May Court House.
Father Barry spent many years in the field of Catholic education. From 1967-84, he taught at Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill. In 1969, he was also a part-time faculty member at St. Joseph High School, Hammonton.
Father Barry’s parish assignments include time as pastor of St. Catherine of Siena, Clayton (1993-2000), and administrator, St. Nicholas, Egg Harbor (2003-04).
He also served at St. Joan of Arc, Camden (parochial vicar, 1967-70); St. Francis de Sales, Barrington (parochial vicar, 1970-79); St. Veronica, Delair (parochial vicar in-residence, 1979-83); St. John Bosco, Millville (parochial vicar in-residence, 1983-85); St. Lawrence, Lindenwold (parochial vicar, 1985-88); St. Pius X, Cherry Hill (parochial vicar, 1988-93); and Transfiguration, West Collingswood (in-residence, 2000-03). During his time at Transfiguration, he also assisted with Masses at Christ the King, Haddonfield, and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Woodlynne.
Father Barry also has served in the Tribunal, as consultant to the Presbyteral Council (2000-02), and as coordinator of Pastoral Statistics and Data (2000-03).