Friends of Msgr. James R. Tracy are remembering the longtime priest as a man who inspired vocations and exemplified holiness.
“He was the kind of priest who made you want to be a better priest,” said Father Allain Caparas, pastor of Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish, Glassboro. “I’m grateful to have known him, and even more grateful to have called him a friend, a brother and a mentor.”
Msgr. Tracy died April 23 at age 88.
A viewing will be held 5-7 p.m. on April 29 at Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 500 Greentree Road, Glassboro. On April 30, a viewing will be held 9-10 a.m. at Saint Bridget University Parish, 127 Church St., Glassboro. The Mass of Christian Burial immediately will follow at 10:15 a.m.
The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Joseph Williams; Father Joseph J. Adamson will be the homilist. Burial will be at Saint Bridget Cemetery.
In the weeks before his death, Msgr. Tracy had moved from Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish and the rectory in Pitman – where he had lived for 14 years – to Sacred Heart Priest Residence in Cherry Hill.
“Through these many years, I have felt so welcomed, so supported and so loved,” Msgr. Tracy said in a video posted to the parish’s social media outlets in March. In the video, he revealed he recently had been diagnosed with cancer.
Father Caparas said he would always treasure the time he spent with Msgr. Tracy serving the Glassboro community.
“His joy, dedication, humility and love for our Eucharistic Lord taught me much – and continue to inspire me in my own vocation as a priest,” Father Caparas said. “The people of our parish were truly blessed by his priestly example and holiness.”
Father Carlo Santa Teresa, parochial vicar at Saint Joseph Parish in Somers Point, knew Msgr. Tracy for 30 years, beginning when Father Santa Teresa was a student at then-St. Peter Celestine Catholic School in Cherry Hill. Msgr. Tracy was pastor at the parish.
“He was always somebody who was present to everyone,” Father Santa Teresa said.
He recalled how, before every Christmas and Easter break, Msgr. Tracy would get on the loudspeaker to urge the students to use their days off wisely. “He reminded us that the vacation we had was always an opportunity to grow closer to Christ.”
Msgr. Tracy also recognized the young Santa Teresa’s gifts, even if the student didn’t see them himself.
“Msgr. Tracy was the first person to ever ask if I wanted to become a priest,” Father Santa Teresa recalled. “Even as I was running from my vocation, monsignor was always there reminding me that the Lord had something in store for me.”
In May 2021, Msgr. Tracy vested Father Santa Teresa with his priestly garments at his ordination.
“I will miss the joy that exuded from his life as a priest,” Father Santa Teresa said of his friend. “Monsignor always asked ‘What more can I do for Christ?’”
Msgr. Tracy was born June 27, 1936, in Camden. He attended Saint Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and the University of Saint Thomas in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 18, 1960, in Rome.
He was pastor at Saint Bridget, Glassboro, 1982-91; Saint Peter Celestine, Cherry Hill, 1991-2000; and Saint Charles Borromeo, Sicklerville, 2002-2011. He taught at both Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, and Holy Spirit High School, Absecon; He became principal of Saint James High School, Carneys Point, in 1968; superintendent of schools in 1970, and secretary for education in 1980.
Other administrative positions he held included chairman of the diocesan RCIA Implementation Committee, and vicar general for pastoral life. He retired from full-time ministry July 31, 2011.
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