Father’s time
97-year-old priest keeps busy
A Manhattan priest — the oldest living member of the Paulist order — says that even though he’s 97, he’s got so much work to do, there’s barely any time for him to sit down.
Father James Lloyd, a beloved resident of the Paulist Motherhouse near Columbus Circle, says he delivers a daily sermon at morning Mass, hears confessions — and watches World War II clips on YouTube.
Also on YouTube are episodes of his NBC talk show, “Inquiry,” which ran from 1958 to 1973. The episodes have garnered thousands of hits and likes.
“I met some interesting people,’’ the Catholic priest said of his TV show, ticking off the names of everyone from Mother Teresa to Jackie Gleason.
Lloyd’s nonstop energy and the good works he’s done since joining the order 70 years ago — including serving as an NYPD chaplain — were celebrated Monday night at a special service at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle on West 59th Street.
Retired NYPD Detective John Wilde hailed Lloyd, saying, “He is very supportive of cops and never will let anyone say anything negative against the NYPD or cops in general.”
Lloyd grew up in a building at 59th Street and 10th Avenue in Manhattan, the son of a Jewish vaudevillian dad and an Irish singer mom.
He said he dated plenty of girls before becoming a priest with the Paulists — who are generally missionary, including at colleges — at age 27.
“Don’t forget, I had a full head of hair back then. Now I am as bald as an eagle,” he quipped.
But Lloyd said his life became “full of joy” when he was ordained.
Lloyd said he first served as a missionary in South Africa. After seven years, he was brought back to New York to help his home community, where his affable manner gained him a following.