Msgr. James A. Carr, a pastor who once compared his relationship to his parishioners to a marriage in which the romance never ended, died June 28. He was 86.
During more than 40 years of active ministry, Msgr. Carr was pastor of three parishes, the first being Mary, Mother of the Church, Bellmawr, where he was the founding pastor and served for 18 years, 1965-83. Upon leaving, he wrote in a letter to his parishioners, “Don’t think me too melodramatic or sentimental in saying a love like this will last me a lifetime, but I think it will. Oh – to be sure – I shall love again, but the new love will be different.”
The new loves were St. Augustine Parish, Ocean City, where he was pastor 1983-87, and Queen of Peace, Pitman, where he was pastor until his retirement in 1996.
He came out of retirement for three months in 2002 to serve as administrator of Holy Family Parish, Sewell. Other parishes he served at included the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden, 1955-57; Holy Saviour, Westmont, 1957-63; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Berlin, 1963-65.
Franciscan Sister Rosemarie Kolmer, coordinator and health advocate for retired priests at Sacred Heart Residence for Priests, Cherry Hill, where Msgr. Carr lived in retirement, remembered him as “a gentle, gentle soul.”
“He was kind and generous, and I find it hard to be here without him these past few days,” said Sister Rosemarie, who knew him for years. He was always ready to help anyone in need, she said. “He was like God. All is given and all is forgiven.”
Others who knew Msgr. Carr spoke of his sense of humor and his friendliness, his spirituality and sense of responsibility.
Msgr. Carr held several administrative positions in the Diocese of Camden. He was director of the House of Charity; a diocesan consultor; a member and two term chairman of the Priest Personnel Board. He served as a member of the Liturgical Commission, Pastoral Council, Bishop’s Commission for Total Family Ministry, Presbyteral Council and Special Committee on Pastors.
Born in Philadelphia, Msgr. Carr studied at Camden Catholic High School; Georgetown University, Washington; and Christ the King Seminary, St. Bonaventure, N.Y. He was ordained March 26, 1955, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Bishop Dennis Sullivan celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial July 5 at St. Peter Celestine Church, Christ Our Light Parish, Cherry Hill. Interment was at New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
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