Msgr. James P. Curran, 88, a longtime pastor in Glassboro and Gloucester City, died Aug. 1.
A priest of the Diocese of Camden for more than six decades, Msgr. Curran had been retired since 2015.
Born in Ireland, Msgr. Curran attended Saint John’s Seminary in Waterford before being ordained a priest on June 13, 1963, by Bishop Daniel Cohalan.
Shortly thereafter, he made his way to the Diocese of Camden. His first assignment was at Christ the King Parish in Haddonfield, where he served from 1963 to 1969.
As a pastor, Msgr. Curran served at Saint Matthew, National Park (1981-1992); Our Lady of Lourdes, Glassboro (1992-2003); and Saint Mary Parish, Gloucester City from 2003 until his retirement.
“His life was all about God, Jesus and his parishioners,” recalled Msgr. Thomas Morgan, a friend of Msgr. Curran and retired priest of the Diocese. “His calling was about helping others in their quest for God.”
“He was a happy and holy person,” Msgr. Morgan continued. “He projected great joy all the time … [with] a great awareness of the holy in his life and in the lives of his parishioners.”
Msgr. Morgan described Msgr. Curran as having a deep devotion to the Eucharist, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the rosary. “He had a great reverence for human life and a great fidelity to the bi-annual pilgrimages with his parishioners” to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
“Like Saint Paul, ‘He fought the good fight. He finished the race. He kept the faith,’” Msgr. Morgan said.
Fellow friend and retired priest Father Patrick Brady agreed. “There’s a new and huge void in the clergy lineup in the Diocese of Camden.”
In addition to Christ the King, Msgr. Curran was parochial vicar at Saint Matthew (1969-1974); Saint Margaret, Woodbury Heights (1974-1980); and Saint Joan of Arc, Camden (1980-1981).
He was also moderator of the diocesan PTA in the 1990s, and served on the Presbyteral Council and Priest Personnel Board.
A Requiem Mass was celebrated in Saint Joseph’s Church, Aughavas, County Leitrim, Ireland. Burial followed in Aughavas New Cemetery.
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