By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer

Almost from the day of his birth in 1944, Philadelphia native Richard J. Gallagher was drawn to the ocean, taking jobs and living near the ocean at different points in his life. It is not surprising then that after a lifetime of priestly service, the parochial vicar in St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor, will be entering his “second great adventure” June 29 and return to the water as he retires from active ministry.

Father Gallagher considered the priesthood at an early age. He attended Philadelphia’s Cardinal Dougherty High School, but began to contemplate fulfilling his vocation in the southern U.S. “I didn’t want to serve where there were so many priests and nuns already,” he said.

Familiar with the Mobile Bay, Alabama from his days as a lifeguard, the future priest chose to apply to the Gulf Coast state’s Archdiocese of Mobile for acceptance into the seminary. He graduated from St. Mary’s College, Marion County, Ky., and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., and was ordained by Bishop John L. May of Mobile, Ala., May 13, 1972.

After serving in parishes in Alabama’s Grove Hill and Morrisville areas, he admitted, “I missed my parents and five siblings,” and applied to return to the northeast. Father Gallagher aided in parishes in the Diocese of Wilmington, Del., from 1975-1979; he was invited to minister in a N.J. parish, followed by his incardination in the Diocese of Trenton in 1983.

Father Gallagher served as associate pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Holly, and pastor, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Trenton, from 1987-1989; then at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Hainesport, from 1989-1993.

He earned a degree in counseling from Villanova University, Villanova, Pa., in 1991, and later continued his education, earning a master’s degree in community counseling.

In 1993, with permission from Bishop John M. Smith, the priest pursued other kinds of ministry. He served as a community counselor in San Francisco County, but his mother’s illness prompted a return to the East Coast. “I enjoyed California, but my mother was dying, so I returned [to Philadelphia] to care for her,” Father Gallagher said.

“I wanted to get back into the Diocese, but not be in full-time ministry,” he continued. Father Gallagher was invited to assist in St. Luke Parish, Toms River, and parishes in the Highlands areas on weekends.

His mother’s death in 1998 and his own heart attack in 2005 prompted more changes and the opportunity to merge his lifelong love of the sea and priestly duties.

“Maybe I should look at the Apostleship of the Sea,” Father Gallagher remembered musing in 2006. The international Catholic organization ministers to those who toil by the sea as cruise ship stewards, dock workers or fishermen, offering them pastoral care and advocating for those threatened with withholding of wages or inhumane working conditions.

Father Gallagher served as a cruise chaplain and visited many ports during his time on the water; during one cruise, he attended Mass in a cathedral in Buenos Aires and received Holy Communion from then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis.

He returned to the Diocese as parochial vicar in St. Rose Parish, Belmar, in 2012, then to his current position as parochial vicar in St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor, close to his beloved ocean once again.

Father K. Michael Lambeth reflected upon his fellow priest’s contributions to the parish. “He is a holy man dedicated to his priesthood,” the pastor noted. “He has a real dedication to serving the people of God.”

Looking back upon his long and varied vocation of priestly ministry, Father Gallagher asserted, “You have to extend yourself and broaden yourself. It all comes together.” The word “retirement” is not in his vocabulary; though his last day as parochial vicar will be June 29, Father Gallagher will not be found looking out over the water for long.

“I view retirement as my second great adventure. I will keep active,” the priest promised. “Divine providence is going to lead me. I’m not sitting at home, I will keep involved and engaged.”