Father Edward M. Davey attributes two essential habits to his miraculously long life as he blows out candles for his 100th birthday today, Oct. 4.
A retired priest of the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey, Father Davey doesn’t think it has to do with his diet, family history, or the exercise he did as a younger man. Instead, he credits his longevity to the daytime naps he takes and a practice that has sustained him throughout his priesthood: constant prayer.
“Prayer is the answer to most people’s problems. I’m successful because of prayer,” said Father Davey, a priest for 72 years, who lives at Merry Heart Senior Care Services in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J. “I pray for people and encourage them to pray, but I don’t tell them what to pray for.”
By divine providence, Father Davey shares a 100th birthday today, Oct. 4, also the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, with Sister Domenica Di Peri of the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco of North Haledon, N.J. The two met for the first time on Sept. 26 during an interview with BeaconNJ.org at Merry Heart. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney sent the centenarians a video birthday message on Sept. 25, from Trenton, N.J., where he was the homilist for the N.J. Mass for Life. [See related story about Sister Domenica.]
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“I’m surprised I made it to 100. I never really thought about it. I take what comes along,” said Father Davey, who is hard of hearing and is unable to drive. “I’m still here to do the work [of a priest]. I’m limited, of course.”
Along with praying, Father Davey enjoys concelebrating Mass on Sundays and Wednesdays for the Merry Heart community with Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Dominic Marconi of the Archdiocese of Newark in New Jersey and 10 fellow retired priests, who are all residents. He has also been a fan of the N.Y. Yankees.
Born on Oct. 25, 1925, Father Davey was ordained on April 22, 1953, in St. Mary Church in Newark. He graduated from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. He studied for the priesthood at St. Mary Abbey in Morristown, N.J. He previously served the Newark Archdiocese.
“I was inspired to become a priest by my parish priest. I thought a lot of him. He could work with young people. I thought that was great work,” Father Davey said.
For the Paterson Diocese, Father Davey’s assignments included Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Wayne, N.J., Our Lady of the Valley Parish, also in Wayne, and Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J. In 1980, he was named pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Newton, N.J., where he served for 19 years until his retirement in 1999.
In retirement, Father Davey first lived at Nazareth Village, the diocesan residence for retired priests in Chester, N.J. He would work out in the exercise room and drive to nearby parishes to offer assistance.
“Father Ed is very warm and concerned about others. People ask him for his prayers. During the day, he’s also very observant of everyone,” said Alexandra Trombley, a concierge at Merry Heart.
